Your firm’s market development and profitability enhancement will be, in large part, influenced by your staff’s ability to target the interests of core demographics and adapt your services and products to industry demands. However, sometimes, the industry in which you operate can reach a commercial peak, becoming impenetrable for SMEs in search of enhanced monetary growth. If you are the administrator of a company operating in a crowded market, where investment budgets have become excessive and audience expectations unrealistic, an excellent idea might be to expand your offerings internationally. However, this is easier said than done.
Legally, opening your business to new markets (especially if you plan to open physical store locations) will only be possible through the professional translation of your venture’s official documentation. Legally binding contracts, land bonds, or officially registered patents are enforceable internationally only if translated into one of the languages recognized in the country where you wish to conduct your activities. Professional translation services are required to avoid legal disputes, make your operations comply with local regulations, and mitigate the risks associated with your professional activities.
Why Go for Human Translation Services?
In a nutshell, it’s a matter of reliability and accuracy. Let’s assume you want to translate one of your official documents, like a land leasing agreement, from English to another European language. A single error in the translation work could have serious legal ramifications, necessitating interactions with foreign judicial systems. Moreover, if you use unlicensed translations for interpreting official documentation, in the event of errors, your case will likely be thrown out, and you may face considerable financial penalties.
AI applications have made impressive progress in recent years, and today, many are sufficiently advanced for translations of non-essential paperwork. However, for complex documents or work requiring a high level of attention and complexity, human linguists are still the only available solution. Human translators are simply better at understanding the subtle nuances behind analyzed texts and can often interpret tone shifts or idioms that machine learning algorithms might miss.
Yes, CAT tools are now part of the toolkit used by agencies providing professional translation services. Their utilization methodology is even outlined in international standards like ISO 18587:2017. Nevertheless, all professional translations, regardless of topic, should be revised and checked by a human translator with experience with the topic at hand. At least for now, human translators are better at understanding the cultural nuances and local idioms, can more easily adapt texts to the linguistic preferences of target audiences, and are significantly more creative than AI-assisted programs.
It’s Not Just a Matter of Flexibility
AI-based CAT tools can be used to translate low-priority texts that don’t necessarily require the expertise of an experienced linguist. But if you want to convey the general tone of your documentation in a foreign language or match the emotion or subtle message of the texts, you will, in almost all cases, need the specialization of a trained translator. The problem is that, often, some things are lost in translation. Some languages are easier to translate than others, but what happens, for example, if you are trying to adapt your website content to a language unrelated to the Indo-European linguistic family?
Let’s assume you want to translate your site’s interface from English to Arabic. This could be problematic, as words like “privacy” or “awkward” don’t have direct equivalents in central Semitic languages. While there are ways to work around this and get your point across, relying solely on CAT tools may lead to mistakes with potentially serious consequences. It’s all fun and games until a small translation error leads to a cultural gaffe that offends your newly targeted core demographic. Human translators have a better understanding of cultural norms, can improve and adapt your texts for market-researched audience preferences, and, most importantly, can be held accountable for their work.
When Is It Okay to Use AI-Assisted Tools?
The answer to this question depends on the specifics of your project or the documentation that needs translating. If you’re looking to relocate to a new country or expand your venture’s activities into a new market, AI-assisted tools will be unsuitable, as your documentation will need to be analyzed and interpreted by a firm providing professional translation services. All official paperwork, whether it’s birth certificates, concession contracts, professional attestations, court rulings, or commercial contracts, must be certified by licensed translators. Otherwise, they are essentially null and won’t receive legal recognition.
However, for marketing purposes or internal communication between vendors or business partners, using AI tools might be a consideration. The main advantages of CAT tools are speed and cost-efficiency. Using an AI-based translation program will be significantly cheaper than hiring a certified translation agency, and the necessary documents will typically be completed in just a few seconds. However, the work won’t be as thorough, and mistakes may occur. For non-legal purposes or content with lower sensitivity, this might be a worthwhile trade-off. However, if you need the translation of documents that could lead to financial or legal consequences, the expertise of a human translator will be invaluable.
It’s a Must-Have Aid for Market-Focused Approaches
Let’s say you’re the manager of an England-based commercial venture, and you want to expand your organization’s operations into another European market. Professional translation services will be essential to your success, as they offer the best way to communicate with target audiences, enhance your venture’s image, adapt your products and services to the cultural nuances of other nations, and localize your marketing efforts for specific demographic subsets.
On top of that, professional translators possess the necessary skills to tailor your texts to specific audience preferences and ensure the resonance of your marketing materials. Translating your messages into a foreign language could give you access to new commercial markets, make your services more appealing to new audiences, and improve your brand’s reputation. While over 52% of search engine-indexed websites are written in English, this just means there’s an entire market out there ready to receive your business. Professional translation services can be the key to your venture’s success, and in the long term, they could transform your organization into an internationally recognized industry authority.