All Things Transparency

This might come as a surprise to some people seeking quality translation and localisation services. Before deciding that this or that company is going to be your end-to-end vendor, you had better ask yourself: Is the company trustworthy and transparent enough? Am I going to regret dozens of thousands of dollars spent on their services when I don’t even know how many people are involved in the business I care so deeply about?

If price is the deciding factor for you when it comes to choosing a vendor, you are going to lose out on a myriad of opportunities and possibilities that you can enjoy with transparency. But if you find a company that hits the home run with your transparency requirements, you’re in it for the long haul because this is a mutually beneficial relationship that is going to help your business further down the line.

How can you recognise a transparent company? There are a few things to consider.

• Be Sure You Will be Satisfied

Make sure they deliver on their promises.You need to be rest assured that any localisation element that you want featured in the delivered product will be there; this is where a reliable and, most importantly, transparent localisation company comes along. If you want something to be there, you’re guaranteed to see it in the final delivered product. At our company, the client is always right. However…

Expertise and experience are not water under the bridge. Our company, with over 10 successful years in business, knows the ins and outs of localisation. So sometimes, we might push back on some requests because we can tell you how to make it even better: some things might not be welcome in other countries, and some stuff could be even considered inappropriate when it comes to cultures that are more reserved than your own. This is actually a sign of a transparent vendor you can trust. Blind and thoughtless following of orders is not our style (unless the situation calls for it, anyway).

• Feedback Response: Yay or Nay

Consider their reaction to feedback. Say you believe that the localisation is terrible. Of course, you need to tell the vendor; after all, you’re paying for a quality service, and you’re going to get one! So you’re justified in your dissatisfaction, and with that in mind, you e-mail them. What you will get in response will shape your future with that company. Some vendors might say that the translation is correct, and there is nothing they can do. But what would a transparent localisation company do? Simple: since localisation is first and foremost translation, it is all about linguistics. Unless they were really wrong, they are going to provide you with proof and links and sources to everything that will show that the translation is not, in fact, terrible. This is again a sign of a reliable vendor. You will also learn something new in the process; people devoted to their craft just love explaining stuff to others. Here at Linguamaster, we always welcome the feedback and are more than happy to explain why we chose this particular word and phrase.

• Devil Is in the Details

Yes, it’s all about pricing. Unless the company you choose is willing to provide a breakdown of everything involved in their localisation services, don’t rush to do business with them. This is just the beginning—imagine what they’re going to be like down the road!

(By the way, Linguamaster project managers will give you a rundown or breakdown of everything you need. Just say the word!)

Remember: localisation and translation are more than just a set of words. They’re about someone’s job, health, or sometimes even life. At our company, that is a rule of thumb. And we stand by it.