TranslateMedia is London based language services provider specialising in digital document translation services for medium and large corporations. The company employs over 650 hand-picked, experienced translators and covers over 50 languages over 15 industry sectors.
TranslateMedia recently announced the launch of its web-based Corporate Translations Servicesí platform which provides its clients with a tailor-made extranet service where multiple users can post documents for translation through their web browser. The company provides each client with a personalised and branded site free of charge that is tailored in a modular fashion to cover all of the companyís specifications.
Each client is allocated a pre-selected team of translators that receive automated alerts as soon as a user posts a document online. ìWe work very closely with the client to put the best team in place in advance and on numerous occasions have integrated freelancers that are already working for the client onto our books so that the client can continue to work with tried and tested translations who already understand the clientís requirements.î Notes Patrick Eve, TranslateMediaís managing director.
ìThere is often a hidden administrative cost in managing so many individual freelancers for the client and these translators are not always available so we reduce the administrative burden and provide continuous availability and quality assuranceî adds Matthew Train, operations manager at TranslateMedia.
The platform is presented in a modular fashion so that each stage of the document uploading facility can be designed to be as comprehensive or fast and user friendly as the client requires. Examples of this include the ability to incorporate a proof-reading, DTP and third party reviewer stages into the workflow process as well as the ability to handle non-readable documents and the uploading of additional information to accompany the document that requires translation.
ìWe try to be as pro-active as possible from the outset, and reduce the time involved in the translation cycle by giving the client the opportunity to upload instructions and contextual information such as previous translations or background information. By providing the translator with as much information as possible from the outset, the client will face fewer queries from the translator and receive a higher quality translation in a much shorter periodî.
Having posted the document, clients can track the progress of the translation through an online tracking tool that lets them know who is handling their document at that time and instantly check that the document will be back on time.
The platform also incorporates a query tool so that that user can post messages directly to the translator and even upload last minute amendments. ìAll queries are automatically associated to a job number so that no time is wasted trying to identify who should handle queries and who is working on which job.î comments Matt Train.
TranslateMedia has invested over US$200,000 to date in the development of this document workflow tool and continued investment in technology development remains a priority. ìWe are continuously adding additional functionality to the platform to benefit not only our clients but also our project managers and translators. We are particularly focused on the incorporation of increasing DTP functionality and MI (Management Information) reporting tools at this stageî. adds Patrick Eve.
The reaction from the translators has been particularly positive to date and they seem to enjoy using the system as it allows them to easily view, download and upload documents over the internet as well as track all the work they have down for TranslateMedia and accumulate credit for work completed in their ëvirtual accountsí. The translator can even request certificates from TranslateMedia that tell them how many words they have translated to date for the company ìThe main advantage of this is that translators are now happy to take on even the smallest of jobs and just added the funds to their account. Once they have accumulated a decent amount of money they can then submit a payment request and TranslateMedia pays them via wire transfer or Paypal. This also benefits the client as it means we can handle even the smallest of jobs without needing to charge the client a minimum fee or get bogged down in administrative bureaucracy.î Says Patrick.
From a project management perspective, TranslateMedia has also set out to provide the most user friendly and informative environment for the project management and document checking team. Project managers can monitor all work in progress through a simple yet comprehensive job monitoring board that allows them to visualise at what stage each job is at and whether deadlines are still on target.
With a simple click on the job they can also see a more detailed view of each job including contact details and payment information for the client, translators, proof-readers and DTP team as well as access original and translated versions of the document. All client documentation is stored online for up to 12 months after the completion date. The platform also asks each proof-reader to grade each job carried out by the translator so a rolling average points system is in place to help the project managers assess the strengths and weaknesses of each translator as deemed by their peers.
Prior to launching TranslateMedia, Patrick Eve spent 10 years in South America working in ERP implementation and outsourcing in the mining industry and then in the venture capital sector looking at business process streamlining solutions for large corporations.
ìWorking for large international companies in foreign locations, I was constantly aware of the importance of being able to communicate perfectly in foreign languages and also the difficulty of getting excellent translations, quickly and on a regular basis. I looked at many of the client facing tools that were on offer and felt that there was a real opportunity for a web based solution that was comprehensive yet user friendly and that was also flexible enough to cover all level of complexity. I am also a great believer in reducing hidden costs such as the inappropriate use of internal human resources ñ just because someone in the office is bilingual doesnít mean they are ñ or want to be ñ a translator! Having local employees do your translation work can be an expensive use of their time and often leads to employee dissatisfaction.î
ìManaging vast numbers of freelancers also represents a huge hidden administrative cost for translators and leaves them open to problems when these freelancers are not available ñ Not to mention the fact that companies have no way of controlling the quality they are receiving or ensuring that they are getting market prices. TranslateMedia can take all these headaches off them and provide the additional resources to make sure they receive the service they want 24/7.
TranslateMedia announces the launch of its ëCorporate Translations Servicesí platform
The company employs over 650 hand-picked, experienced translators and covers over 50 languages over 15 industry sectors
