Translation services: What to look for in a provider

With a growing demand for translation services there has been, inevitably, a growing number of firms offering to translate documents and speech for clients but how do you find the most suitable service for your needs?
Today it’s not just international or large firms looking for translators in the global economy – small firms and even housing providers are looking for language help too.
The first step is to decide what you want a translation service provider to actually do: is it just for documents or do you need someone to sit in meetings and translate?
The answers to these questions are crucial because they will eliminate a number of potential translation service providers.

How to find a translation agency

There’s no doubt that finding a translation agency suitable for the task can be a daunting process since many offer different things at varying prices.
Possibly the best way of finding an agency to translate for a business is by word of mouth but if no-one is prepared to give a recommendation then it’s wise to start using Google or any other search engine.
However, a good tip here is not to just search for ‘translation agency’ but to be more specific in your search and instead target either your location or the language you are particularly interested in, for instance, you should type in ‘translation agency London’ or ‘Chinese translation agency specialist’ to get the better results.
It’s worth noting too that when someone uses the search engines to find a translation agency, that some of the paid-for advert’s which surround the results may also prove beneficial and useful. Many of those advertising are among the leading agencies and a good delivery of service is assured.
The next step is then to sift through the offerings of the various translation agencies to find the one that meets your needs best.
This may entail having to contact them directly and speak with somebody about your requirements. It’s at this point that the professionalism of the translation agency will come to the fore because they will ask questions in return which you may not have considered.
The translation agency will already know and appreciate what they can and cannot deliver if they are being asked to translate documents from English into another language, or vice versa, or whether you as a client is needing someone to attend your premises as a skilled translator.
It may also be a good idea to test one or two agencies and have a translation ready for transcribing which can be emailed to them.
The results of the translation should then be checked carefully to see just how differently they have approached the task and calculate how much it has cost and what your future translation expenses will be.

Check the qualifications and experience of your translation agency

An important but often overlooked criteria for selecting a translation agency is to find one that has extensive qualifications in translation and it’s always wise to use an agency that has been in business for a decent length of time.
This means that they will have built-up a credible list of clients and developed a good reputation in delivering translation services.
Depending on the needs of your business, it may be wise to find a translation agency that works on a national basis so that there is just a one firm to deal with for all of your needs and they will come to appreciate your demands too.
For instance, one of the leading translation agencies is 1st Transnational who have extensive experience in working with a wide range of clients where accuracy is vital, such as in the legal and medical fields.
Firms like this have offices dotted around the UK to help deliver a first class service and they can also offer a quick turnaround should it be needed.
It’s always wise to choose a firm like 1st Transnational who are also members of industry organisations such as the Association of Translation Companies which means that clients can be reassured that the translation agency they have chosen to work with are working to a high standard.
Finding a suitable translation agency should be an exercise that is carefully carried out since if they make mistakes in translation it could be not only embarrassing but also costly should your business lose an important client.