Why it May Be Time for A Multilingual Content Quality Audit

The world seems to be getting smaller as international businesses increase in prevalence.  The internet makes cross-border transactions more accessible, and e-commerce retail sales alone surpassed $4.2 trillion worldwide in 2020.  Today, it’s easier than ever to operate multiple facets of your business in multiple countries or manage a website translated into several languages to connect to customers around the world.

Companies that extend their operations to another country often begin by translating all related materials into the foreign language.  For those with physical operations in a foreign country, translating documents usually involves employee manuals and associated records, procedure manuals, and other internal documents.  Others with only a foreign language web presence may only require duplicating a current website into the foreign language.  As business progresses, as changes are made or new products are introduced, relevant items must be translated, too.

Why are multilingual content quality audits necessary?

Over time, translation quality is likely to become inconsistent due to differences in translator quality, incorrect automated translations, or new trends that impact localization.  Performing regular audits will help ensure your content is accurate, consistent, relevant, and straightforward.

Here are a few signs that you should perform an audit:

1. You’re receiving negative feedback about the translated content.  Suppose you’re getting comments from customers that your content is difficult to understand or employees are pointing out excessive errors. In that case, it may be time to have your materials assessed by a professional translator.
2. Sales are lower than anticipated.  You likely conducted significant market research before extending the business to another country. If your actual results aren’t meeting expectations, it may be time to look at the translated material.
3. Contract negotiations are abandoned.  When foreign entities rely on the information on your website for product specifications, standard business procedures, and customary terms but are presented with contractual agreements with alternate details, the result can be confusion and lost sales.
4. Employees in foreign countries create their own documents.  When operations in another country don’t rely on your translation, that’s a good sign the translations are subpar.  Unfortunately, by doing so, this creates more confusion and opportunity for discrepancies.

How do you conduct a multilingual content quality audit?

First, you need a professional and qualified translator.  At The Perfect Translation, our translators have skills and experience in the industry and proficiency in the target language.  We understand international business and will identify the best translator to complete your project.

Professional translators go beyond digital software programs by identifying issues that computer programs miss.  For example, professional translators will review feedback you’ve received and review your material to look for problems such as incorrect dialects, contextual inaccuracies, or simply awkward phrasing.  Additionally, professional translators can detect format issues, legal and contractual discrepancies, and overall problems leading to poor performance.

When your business relies on accurate translations, contact The Perfect Translation.

At The Perfect Translation, we specialize in providing accurate translations for essential documents.  Our translators have experience in many industries such as immigration, business, real estate, financial, academic, legal, and medical.  Simply contact us today and get a free quote for your project.