E2E is a startup company based in Medellin, Columbia. It is an online platform with the mission of bridging the gap between developed world and developing world through case studies. Therefore, the company is constantly in need of English-Spanish translations in order to facilitate the communication with and among clients.
Currently, E2E is sending files in word formats to translators via email. After finishing the translation, translators will send the files back, expecting the next email with another task. There is probably someone doing reviewing and proofreading job, but the translators usually do not get feedbacks.
As a result, inefficiency is mostly noted in several aspects:
- Translators do not know when the next task is coming or what will be the scale of the project. For part-time translators, it means there might be some time when they are available but receive little job, and also some time when they have their two hands full but still have to translate considerable files within tight deadline.
- Reviewers might have to do repeated work which could have been avoided. As translators do not get feedbacks on their output, they are likely to commit the same mistakes over and over again with regards to terminologies, register, style etc.
- Emails could get lost. And in case one translator is not available at a time, the job assigner has to write another translator an email, wasting much time in the process. With documents piling up, it is also going to be hard to manage version controls, naming rules etc.
- Translators cannot communicate with each other or contribute to one shared term base, resulting in a waste of resources. Each might be using different CAT tools, if any, and causing inconsistencies in respective work.
In the light of these problems, a comprehensive translation management system (TMS), such as SDL WorldServer, is recommended in carrying out the translation workflow. Applying WorldServer in the workflow will largely improve current situations.
- All parties involved will have a clear overview of the projects. The company will be able to track projects constantly and assign new projects to either specific person or publicly. Translators will have a better control over their schedules and collaborate among each other.
- Reviewers will be able to see the translations in the system and make corrections or notes instantly. They can also add comments to errors and return to translators, in which case translators will receive notifications automatically and make necessary revisions. The whole editing phase will be completed in WorldServer.
- With WorldServer, communication is automated and intuitive, therefore greatly lowering time cost. Once the company uploads a task, everyone involved in the workgroup will receive notifications and be able to claim the task. When translations are completed, WorldServer will carry the workflow forward and send notifications to reviewers. As the documents go through all necessary steps, the company will be able to download the final version directly from WorldServer.
- WorldServer has many essential functions like any other CAT tools, including TM, TD, filter, workflow, workgroup, client, project type etc. For example, with access to one common TM or several according to different topics, translators have the valuable resources to leverage and are able to contribute constantly. TD will also be an important reference for not only translators but also reviewers to evaluate the quality of work.
With a comprehensive TMS like WorldServer, translation and reviewing speed will be enhanced, cost will be reduced, and inconsistency and common errors will be prevented. The company will be able to track large amounts of information with a simple user interface and allocate resources more reasonably. Given the fact that E2E is a company relied on efficient communication to succeed, it is strongly recommended to adopt WorldServer or similar TMS to grow further.
Emily Du @ MIIS 