Delivering over 1300 translation services projects across almost 20 years has taught us the most common use cases for a company reaching out to a translation agency, and the qualities organisations seeking to work with a translations agency for the first time should look out for in a potential partner.
There are several metrics to assess when searching for the ideal translations partner for your organisation.
It’s important to understand whether an agency’s experience is suitable for tackling your business challenges. We’re very familiar with company’s natural apprehension on translation services as so much is at stake and it’s a high-trust relationship.
A common theme is often that the translation challenge itself is unique, but if the translation agency is experienced and structured correctly to deliver based on language and discipline, then it’s a solid start. Another key part of your decision making will hinge on an agency’s resources and ability to turn around work to your schedule.
In this article, we will explore in detail our best advice for identifying the ideal translation agency for your international growth efforts.
What is their expertise?
When setting out to identify a translations partner, or drawing up a shortlist of contenders, a critical factor to understand is whether their expertise can assist you in achieving your key goals.
Gauging two key elements of an agency’s experience will help you decide if they are right for you.
The first is their experience working in the target territory associated with your project. An agency well-versed in your target location or language will understand the translation challenges and cultural nuances of creating translations for that territory.
At Bubbles, our network of translators, based across the globe, have been helping leading brands expand their businesses internationally through expert translations for nearly 20 years. Our translators work across 280 languages, providing quality assured translations which put your company’s best foot forwards. It’s all part of your journey towards becoming an internationally recognised leader in your industry.
Our client promise is to provide your brand with a translator you can trust to understand your translation challenge, each and every single time you brief us.
Secondly, you will want to work with a partner that has a skillset applicable to your niche. It’s no good having a legal translation specialist working on your marketing project.
We have had the pleasure of creating translations for a highly varied number of industry sectors. Our commercial translation services cover challenges ranging from marketing material translations to legal documents, technical manuals and more for sectors including biotechnology, manufacturing and engineering. Check out our sectors page for an indicative but by no means an exhaustive list of the sectors we offer comprehensive translation services for.
Resources and turnaround times
Translation is often a time-bound project and tied into the execution of many other elements – from marketing campaigns to delivery of equipment to a client. We understand it’s an important cog in a much larger machine. Depending on your timeline – you might be rapidly approaching a deadline that requires a quick turnaround time, or be planning more strategically – either way, at some point, a translations partner which can rapidly deliver on your project is a must.
If you can, when talking to translations agencies, try to gauge how busy they currently are. If they have recently taken on a number of new clients, they might not be able to meet tight deadlines or adjust to any new requirements you have as projects develop.
Operationally, we are agile. To get an idea of our timeline and financials, use our instant quoting process to understand how we will approach your project and receive a timeline for the completion of work.
Read testimonials and reviews
No business can survive with poor customer testimonials and reviews. Whatever business or service you are researching with a view to buying or using for the first time, reading customer reviews can give you a good idea if they right are for you.
As an example, our review page on Trustpilot is testament to the high service standards and expertise we offer.
Reading testimonials will also give you insight into the types of clients that the agency has worked with. Should you see a number of recognisable brands or companies in your niche, you will know the agency has the background to help you achieve your aims.
Bespoke service or off-the-shelf product?
A common practice for translations agencies is to structure their offering based on a certain number of words translated, with costs calculated off the page based on total word count.
This can be a useful barometer for limited projects with a defined word count, but for a more holistic approach to translations, it can be preferable to work with an agency that offers a bespoke service and pricing structure. Languages are not created equal and having off the shelf pricing belies this complexity and appreciation for your specific challenge.
We know every client is different, with unique goals and a vision of what success looks like in their international expansion journey. This is why we individually price each quote based on the language and type of translation. With our expertise and customer-centric approach, we’ll help you reach the goals of your international expansion.
Do they offer a quality guarantee?
Agencies that offer a quality guarantee will go the extra mile to ensure you are fully satisfied with every aspect of their service.
We offer a satisfaction guarantee for every project, which means if you’re not satisfied, we’ll go back to the drawing board until everything is exactly as you require.
Whether an agency is accredited is also a good yardstick to pre-assess the quality of their work.
Bubbles are accredited as language service provider members of the Association of Translation Companies (ATC). Additionally, we are a network member of the European Union of Associations of Translation Companies.
With these accreditations to our name, we can offer the highest service quality possible.
Speak with one of our friendly project managers
Fill out and submit our instant quote form and one of our friendly team members will be in touch immediately. They will be your constant, trusted and responsive point of contact, should you decide to work with us. Your dedicated project manager will be in regular contact with you throughout your project to update you on progress and deliver our translations on schedule.
If you have any questions, please get in touch and our team will assist you with your enquiry.
