Translation Service FAQ's

What is ITC’s Translation Process?

By definition, project management includes the planning, organizing, monitoring, and supervision of all aspects of your translation project. ITC’s project managers are responsible for carrying out the following steps for each and every project, regardless how big or how small:

• Texts to be translated are received.
• Files, glossaries, and translation memories are analyzed using Trados.
• Word count and repetition is determined.
• Quote (cost + turnaround) is provided to the client and approved.
• Texts are assigned to translators according to specialization and language combination.
• Translation takes place.
• The client regularly receives real-time project updates from ITC GLOBAL TRANSLATIONS.
• Proofreading is done in-house or by professional proofreaders.
• A final in-house quality check is performed.
• Translations are delivered to the client.
• Glossaries and translation memories are updated upon project completion.
• The terminology glossary is delivered, if requested by the client.

This project management process enables ITC GLOBAL TRANSLATIONS to consistently deliver on time, within budget, and according to established quality standards. Additional cycles and steps are easily incorporated to accommodate large, multilingual, or complex projects.

Which formats does ITC support?

ITC GLOBAL TRANSLATIONS is equipped to work with the latest software applications, including those listed below:  

• QuarkXPress
• Catalyst 5
• Acrobat
• InDesign
• FrameMaker 7
• WebWork
• PageMaker
• Illustrator
• Photoshop
• Macromedia Dreamweaver
• Macromedia Fireworks
• Macromedia Freehand
• Macromedia RoboHelp X5
• MS Office applications
• Trados (all components)

What is ITC’s standard Turnaround Time?

In order to determine turnaround time for a project, ITC GLOBAL TRANSLATIONS considers the client’s needs and organizes a team that can meet those needs without jeopardizing translation quality. That said, translation takes time; each project consists of several steps–initial translation, editing, proofreading, formatting, etc. –and skilled translators require ample time in order to do the proper research to produce a carefully written text. With proper planning, ITC can guarantee that all projects will run on schedule. ITC GLOBAL TRANSLATIONS identifies key events, milestones, and critical and near-critical activities in the project schedule to make sure that all projects are delivered within the agreed upon timeframe.

ITC understands the importance of quick turnaround times and efficient project management; delivering on time is not an option but a must in our industry.

Final deliverables depend on the source document. Standard deliverables include MS Word .doc files, or, if desktop publishing services are involved, then deliverables such as .pdf files, QuarkXPress files, or InDesign files are customarily provided as the finished product. Any glossies or translation memories created during the course of a project belong to the client.

What is ITC’s Risk Management process?

ITC GLOBAL TRANSLATIONS makes every effort to mitigate for risk up-front through careful planning and a clearly-defined project management process. This process ensures that projects are organized and supervised in accordance with stringent internal standards.

Risk management is an essential part of project management. Relevant team members collaborate to tackle risks early on by assessing and documenting potential problem areas during the planning stage of a project. A risk-prevention strategy is formulated for each risk identified, and these risks are then carefully monitored throughout the entire project.

Why Do I Need to Translate?

Any company that makes the decision to “go global” will soon have a need for translation in order to communicate with their customers, vendors, or employees in other parts of the world. To achieve successful market entry in a new locale, companies need to develop versions of their products and documentation that are specifically tailored to their customers’ language and cultural preferences. In some regions, translation of products and associated materials may even be a legal requirement before local business activities can even begin. As international corporations become more and more aware of their translation needs, they realize that they must formulate an effective product globalization plan to ensure that their products and information are made available in the language of their customers and partners efficiently and accurately.

In today’s global business world companies must be agile and competitive in the face of increasing global competition. In this "globalized" environment, it is imperative that these companies deliver a unique customer experience and a clear vision of their global brand while minimizing time-to-market. For companies in this situation, the benefits of offering high-quality translations are clear:

• Customers are more likely to purchase a product translated into their native language and adapted to their local requirements and cultural preferences.
• Localized marketing ensures better understanding and reception among potential customers, thereby increasing awareness and creating a consistent brand image on a global scale.
• Customers experience greater satisfaction with localized products, and this, in turn, stimulates customer loyalty.
• Translated documentation enables end users to maximize their use of a product and its features.
• International customer support costs are lower when products and documentation are available in the local language.
• In many situations, the availability of localized products or content may be the deciding factor that makes a company stand out from the competition.