Translation Rate and Fee Factors

welocalize May 30, 2018

What is involved in the translation process? To do it right, a lot more than you may think—from working with subject matter experts to ensuring messages resonate in local markets.

The team at Welocalize Life Sciences offers these tips for understanding the true cost of translation and why creative, technical and highly regulated industries may require additional steps and expertise in the translation process.

Subject matter experts. Quality, skilled translators cost more. Translating content for highly regulated industries involves a team of linguists who understand the subject matter and the local market. Specifically, translators must have knowledge of what will resonate with the intended audience, as well as what could offend or even result in an unfavorable outcome. For example, in some Latin American cultures the word simpatía represents an important cultural value. Translated as “congeniality” or “affection,” the level of simpatía that patients perceive in clinical settings influences how satisfied they feel with their care. Contact us to find out about our rigorous linguist selection criteria and subject matter expertise.

Transcreation. To resonate with a local market, sometimes translation needs to be taken a step further, which is where transcreation fits in. Transcreation is about taking a concept in one language and completely recreating it in another language – it is normally applied to the marketing of an idea, product or service to international audiences. The aim is to get the same reaction in each language, something that translation alone is rarely able to achieve. Transcreation projects require working with specialized teams which might include bilingual creative writers, linguists and marketing specialists. The transcreation process can include copywriting, image selection, font changes and other elements that tailor your message to the local market.

Project team. Translation projects require a proactive project team that works in alignment with the client, catering to their preferences and maintaining the client’s glossaries and style guidelines. The project team consists of multiple skilled members, including a dedicated project manager. The ultimate benefit of qualified professional translation management is that projects run smoothly, are more likely to be delivered on time and within budget and meet the expectation of the client.

Processes and procedures. A professional translation firm will have quality assurance processes in place—and follow them, as opposed to cutting corners to save money. These processes may include back translations, linguistic validation, structured client review and multiple translation revisions. In addition, language service providers working with companies in highly regulated industries should hold third-party quality certifications, such as ISO certifications which validate that quality management standards are met. Welocalize Life Sciences is certified in ISO 9001:2015, ISO 13485 and ISO 17100.

Working with life sciences industry experts is also a key element of a successful translation process. If your materials, products or trials are crossing borders, contact Welocalize Life Sciences for more information about our professional translation and transcreation services for highly regulated industries.