As more businesses
access consumers on a global scale, professional translation becomes ever more
important for a range of industries. It is no longer viable to restrict
documents to English, and doing so could even damage your bottom line.
In many countries,
translation of key documents is necessary to adhere to local laws and trading
regulations for both the country of origin and the destination. There are also
strong reasons for translating materials for your consumer audience and international
workforces, from employee engagement to building loyalty among consumers.
Professional translation services enable businesses to remain compliant with legal
obligations, communicate with their target audiences, and effectively engage
with their staff abroad. Therefore, it’s pretty much applicable to any industry
and circumstance. Here are four unexpected areas where professional
translations can help your brand succeed.
Manufacturing Across
Borders
Whether you are having
something manufactured overseas for distribution in the US or producing
something on home soil to sell to international customers, there are a range of
documents that will need to be translated into both languages to ensure you are
complying with legal obligations.
Contracts, tax forms,
licenses,and trademarks are just the beginning. Promotional material, product
information on the packaging, and user manuals will also need to be handled by
a professional translator to ensure accuracy and authenticity of all your
messages.
With over $1 billion of
US manufactured goods exported in 2016, and small businesses responsible for a
whopping 96% of all exporters in the US, it’s not just the big companies that
need the services of professional translators. Both large enterprises and SMBs
can reap the benefits of accurate messaging to their target audiences abroad,
with the added benefit of maintaining compliance with government requirements.
Patent Acceptance for
New Inventions and Markets
Patents need to be
exact. They must precisely describe a product or system so that there are no
misunderstandings that can put the exclusivity of an invention’s production at
risk. Further complications are introduced when patents are meant to be upheld
in more than one country. A single misinterpreted word can send years of work
down the drain.
Initial filing and
ongoing maintenance in countries abroad varies in cost and start anywhere from $1,565 for filing in Iran to $6,444 for Japan, and up depending on the length of
patenting documentation. Engaging a professional language service provider will
reduce cost by ensuring it’s done right the first time and ensure accuracy of
wording throughout the entire process.
Clinical Trials and Publication
of Research Materials
Clinical trials require
an extensive amount of paperwork. When including trial participants whose first
language is not in English, the amount of documentation only increases. There
are informed consent forms, case reports, clinical outcome assessments and
more.
All medical documents
will need to be translated twice. Professional translators should be involved
for the duration of the complicated process to ensure complete understanding of
participants, staff, and regulatory agencies.
The findings of all
research should also be translated to reach the widest audience in scientific
communities and the media. 75% of scientific papers are written in English and in some disciplines as many as
90% of papers are English. However, offering the medical documents in another
language widens its accessibility and influence potential.
Finance and Real Estate
Industries
It’s not just products
and services that are going global. Banking, investment, and the growing
interest in purchasing holiday homes abroad is increasing the need for
professional translators. These experts assist with sales contracts, leases,
and international financial transactions to ensure that the documents do not
violate either country’s market laws.
In all of these
verticals, it is crucial that faulty or inaccurate translation is avoided when
negotiating international business. Employing the services of professional and
accredited language service providers at the beginning of international
ventures will ensure that the needs of the company and the appropriate
regulatory bodies are met.
Article by Rachel Wheeler
