Translation Vendor Selection Criteria

Translation services are consumed by business and professional organizations everywhere. Each have their own criteria for selecting a translation company. Here’s our list:

1) Responsive to Requests & Inquiries: 

When you need information or have questions about translation services a fast and efficient response can be a big advantage. Project pricing and scheduling questions can be especially time sensitive.

2) Availability of Experienced, Native-Speaking Professional Linguists: 

Leading translation vendors will have an extensive roster of experienced, native-speaking linguists with a variety of specializations so the best suited translator resource can be assigned to each project.

3) Competitive Pricing (not necessarily the lowest):

Leading translation services vendors will be price competitive although the lowest priced vendor might not necessarily be the best choice. Below market pricing can mean less skilled translators or insufficient quality control procedures.

4) Professional Operations

Leading translation vendors will exhibit professionalism in all aspects of their business, from client communications to project quoting, and in each touch point with their clients. Companies that exhibit care in their operational details are also likely to be detail oriented and implement quality control procedures in the translation process.

5) Positive Overall Working Interactions

Do interactions with the company bring you up or down? Intangibles in the quality of interactions with a translation vendor are important. Most ongoing translation clients eventually need a special consideration (e.g., rush schedule, order modification, et.al.). Leading vendors will try to accommodate special requests.