Whether it’s product manuals, compliance forms, internal policies, marketing materials, or educational workbooks, companies rely on PDFs to distribute important information. But when it comes to translating PDFs, things aren’t as simple as they seem.

By design, PDFs are made to preserve a document’s appearance and prevent unauthorized duplication.

At first glance, you might assume you can just upload a PDF to Google Translate or another free online tool. After all, those tools are fast, free, and easy to use. But the gain in speed and convenience comes with a sacrifice in accuracy, formatting, and professional presentation.

For example, when Interpro localizes PDFs for SEIU 775 Benefits Group (a nonprofit supporting thousands of ESL caregivers), they contain critical information about health benefits, training materials, and facilitator guides. These can be loaded with healthcare jargon, and help to keep caregivers compliant with regulations in the health services industry. Throughout this article, we’ll reference how organizations like SEIU take the right approach to translation, and break down some key differences between professional translation services and free tools.

The Hidden Complexity of PDF Translation

PDF stands for Portable Document Format. That “portability” makes PDFs ideal for sharing documents across devices, operating systems, and viewing environments. But it also means they’re not source files. Most PDFs are exported from programs like Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, or Microsoft Word; all of which have a robust set of editing tools. The complexity of working directly with a PDF stems from the limited set of editing tools available in Acrobat. Localizing a PDF will almost always require more editing functionality than Acrobat offers, so we typically will convert the PDF to expand our editing capabilities. 

Translating that layout isn’t just a matter of replacing one string of text with another. Consider:

• Text expansion or contraction across languages
• Font compatibility across scripts
• Right-to-left (RTL) language support
• Retaining or updating functional elements like cross-references, hyperlinks, and tables of contents
• Preserving layout and visual hierarchy

The takeaway: translating a PDF properly requires both linguistic accuracy and technical understanding of language formatting. That’s where a professional translation partner adds real value because free tools don’t provide either of these benefits.

What Makes PDF Translation So Technically Challenging?

1. PDFs Are Not Editable Source Files

Once a file is converted to PDF, editing becomes difficult. The editing capabilities of PDF software are not nearly as robust as those found in Word or InDesign (check out InDesign benefits and best practices here). So while it is possible to make simple edits directly in PDF software like Acrobat, most of the editing functionality that’s needed is either missing or very limited. Some examples include changing fonts, applying right-to-left formatting, adjusting leading, and updating an Index or Table of Contents. 

2. OCR May Be Required

If your PDF was scanned the text is likely saved as an image. In this case, OCR (Optical Character Recognition) must be used to extract the text. The quality of OCR is highly dependent on the resolution and clarity of the original file.

3. Formatting Needs to Be Rebuilt

Text wrapping, column layouts, font sizing, and image placement all change once translated. Text may expand by 15-30% in languages like Spanish or German. Conversely, languages like Chinese or Korean may contract. This shift often breaks layouts unless multilingual desktop publishing (DTP) is applied to restore balance.

4. Functionality Is Easily Lost

Clickable elements like a hyperlinked table of contents or cross-references will not survive the translation process unless rebuilt intentionally. These must be manually re-linked within a design program like InDesign.

Free Tools vs. Professional Services: What’s the Difference?

So you’re considering your options. We get it, and in some cases the free tool may make sense in very simple messages and where urgency is more important than precision. However, for professional clients, we don’t find free tools to be accurate and they can still be burdensome to use.

Other common pitfalls of DIY or free PDF translation tools are:

• Inaccurate technical language: Auto-translators mishandle industry terms.
• Cultural missteps: Offending or confusing international audiences.
• Broken layouts: Auto-generated PDFs often break page design.
• Lost functionality: TOCs and links may not work as expected.
• Brand damage: Poor translations hurt credibility.

When You’ll Need a Multilingual Desktop Publishing (DTP) Specialist

To avoid all the previously mentioned problems, you need a Multilingual DTP specialist. They are subject matter experts on the specific process of formatting translated text into the original layout while preserving visual integrity, readability, and cultural appropriateness. This is particularly crucial for:

• Brochures and marketing PDFs
• Compliance and safety manuals
• Technical documentation
• Product packaging or datasheets

At Interpro, our DTP specialists work with professional linguists to ensure translated PDFs don’t have cut-off text, distorted images, or broken tables.

How it Works: Professional PDF Translation

When you get started with a professional translation company, the process should look something like this:

1. File Review
   Is the PDF editable or scanned? Is a native file available (e.g., .INDD or .DOCX)?
2. OCR + Text Extraction (if needed)
   We extract live text and preserve layout references.
3. Glossary & Translation Memory Prep
   We use your existing terminology or create a glossary to ensure consistency.
4. Human Translation by Subject Matter Experts
   In-country linguists translate the content with regional nuance.
5. Multilingual DTP Formatting
   Our design team rebuilds layout, adjusts spacing, and ensures formatting integrity.
6. Quality Assurance
   Final review includes linguistic QA and visual QA to ensure formatting, functionality, and message integrity.
7. Delivery of Final PDF
   A clean, fully formatted, and accurate PDF that matches your brand standards, but in another language. 

When to Choose a Professional Translation Company

You may not be ready to start translating now. But when you’re ready to scale your translated communications, you’ll likely want to work with a professional translation agency to help you with:

• Efficient workflows that integrate with your writers and designers processes for timely delivery and the best translation quality.
• Human linguists with subject matter expertise in your industry.
• Engineering and design support for complex file types.
• Ability to provide feedback for critical translations for compliance, marketing, or technical publications.
• Additional translation support tools like a translation memory, glossary or style guide.

In conclusion, a free PDF translation tool might help you understand a document in another language or help with urgent, simple communications. But if you’re using PDFs to communicate with clients, employees, regulators, or global partners, these free tools won’t serve you.

Ready to Translate? Start With a Single PDF

Want to see what a professionally translated PDF looks like? Get the behind-the-scenes professional translation experience and request a free sample translation. 

We’ll provide document translation services with one of your documents to show how Interpro makes it seamless to get accurate translations, tone, and formatting every time.

Preserving your brand and message intent is the start of your growth strategy, your risk mitigation plan, and your key to clear communication. Whether you’re targeting international markets or supporting U.S. audiences with English-as-a-Second Language, we tailor translation solutions that help you scale with confidence.

 Get a Sample Translation

The post Why Professional PDF Translation Matters (and Free Tools Fall Short) appeared first on Interpro Translation Solutions.

Many organizations are familiar with translation services, which involve converting written content from one language to another (sometimes called localization). But when you need to accurately transfer knowledge in real-time to those speaking multiple languages, you need interpretation services.

Traditional in-person interpretation often means flying in multiple interpreters from different locations, paying for expensive on-site equipment, covering their travel expenses, and managing complex scheduling logistics – all of which can drain your budget before the training even begins.

Remote Simultaneous Interpretation (RSI) has emerged as a game-changing alternative. By leveraging cutting-edge technology to deliver real-time interpretation, RSI transforms how organizations connect, communicate, and learn across language barriers.

Understanding How RSI Works

Unlike with traditional, in-person interpretation, participants simply tune-in to their preferred language either through a headset with audio or an American Sign Language (ASL) video. Live AI captions may also be utilized pending project scope.

To do this, RSI leverages cloud technology and specialized software that enables seamless interpretation. Professional interpreters work from remote locations, using dedicated platforms to access and simultaneously translate the speaker’s audio or video feed.

Participants can then access translated audio in real-time, using their preferred language through various digital channels – whether that’s a web-based platform, mobile app, or conferencing hardware. The system typically follows a “Bring Your Own Device” (BYOD) approach, allowing participants to listen to or view the translated content on their personal devices, such as laptops, tablets, or smartphones.

The Strategic Advantages of RSI

As organizations expand globally, the need for effective multilingual communication has never been more critical. With RSI, numerous strategic advantages exist to help businesses and associations with instructor-led training actualize their full potential:

Cost-Effective Global Communication

Organizations are increasingly turning to RSI for its transformative impact on multilingual communication and training delivery. At its core, RSI offers remarkable cost-effectiveness by eliminating the need for travel expenses and physical interpreter booths. This technology enables truly global reach, bridging geographical barriers and time zones to connect participants worldwide while promoting greater accessibility and inclusivity across diverse audiences.

Revolutionizing Training Environments

Whether sessions are conducted virtually through platforms like Zoom and Microsoft Teams, or in person, the impact is transformative.

Organizations can now leverage a single English-speaking, subject matter expert to teach diverse audiences through simultaneous interpretation, rather than hiring multiple language-specific instructors. For example, a manufacturer could conduct essential warehouse safety training—similar to the National Safety Council training programs—with a single expert instructor while reaching employees who speak different languages. Similarly, a healthcare organization could deliver critical patient care protocols or medical device training to multilingual staff using just one clinical instructor. This creates a truly interactive learning environment where, for example, a student can ask a question in Spanish, the instructor receives it in English, responds in English, and the student hears the answer in Spanish—all happening seamlessly in real-time.

Perhaps most importantly, this scalability allows organizations to expand their language support without proportionally increasing their infrastructure or instructor costs.

Applications Across Multiple Settings

RSI’s versatility makes it a valuable solution across numerous settings, including instructor-led classes, workshops and corporate training sessions. It’s perfect for a wide range of organizations, from non-profits to corporate manufacturing giants – basically any organization that may need real-time interpretation services for classes, webinars, onboarding, testing and even town halls.

However, it’s also a great solution for larger-scale in-person, hybrid, and virtual events, like international conferences. With RSI, you are not limited by geography and can access the best subject matter interpreters for your event no matter where they are in the world. The service proves particularly valuable for technical and industry-specific events where specialized language expertise is crucial, such as medical conferences, technology summits.

Versatility and Environmental Impact

What makes RSI particularly powerful is its versatility and efficiency. An RSI platform seamlessly integrates with existing interpreting solutions across various meeting types. It also offers flexibility in event planning and execution, since interpreters can work from anywhere. These efficiencies significantly reduce ramp-up times as well as planning requirements. Plus, without the need for travel associated with traditional interpretation, RSI delivers meaningful environmental benefits through a reduced carbon footprint.

Traditional Interpretation vs. RSI

When comparing traditional interpretation methods with RSI for multilingual needs, the differences are striking:

Interpro’s Industry-Leading RSI Services

We’re happy to say that Interpro Translation Services is a leader in the marketplace for RSI, providing it to a variety of businesses and associations worldwide.

Our language translation services integrate seamlessly with popular platforms like Microsoft Teams, Go-To Webinar, Webex, Google Meet and Zoom. Moreover, interpreted sessions can be recorded, creating valuable multilingual training resources for future use.

Looking for something even more cost-effective?

Interpro still has you covered. Another alternative to in-person, traditional instructor-led training is video localization for global audiences. Through a service called Video overlay, our conference-level professional interpreters create voice-over recordings from your English MP4 videos, delivering results similar to live event quality.

Get a Custom Interpretation Demo Today

Excited about RSI? Interested in video localization or something else? Let us show you a customized demo that delivers multilingual web meetings with whichever platform you prefer. You can also rest assured that everything we do is in accordance with the ISO 9001:2015 standard.

With Interpro’s interpreting solutions, your instructor-led training can reach every participant effectively, regardless of language barriers.

Book a demo today with an Interpro specialist to see how you can begin transforming your business and bottom line.

The post How to Maximize Instructor-Led Training with Remote Simultaneous Interpretation appeared first on Interpro Translation Solutions.

For associations, language isn’t just a tool. It’s essential for effective communication with your members.

At the 2024 ASAE Annual Meeting in Cleveland, Interpro Translation Solutions hosted a happy hour designed to spark meaningful conversations about global communication. More than just a social gathering, the event brought together association professionals committed to making their member experiences more inclusive, accessible, and culturally relevant.

In this article, we’ll share everything that we discussed at the event so you can be empowered to host events, meetings, and conferences in any language.

Why Translation & Interpreting Matters to Associations

Member-driven organizations face a unique challenge: they must communicate complex information clearly across diverse communities. Whether they’re publishing technical documentation, hosting training programs, or producing events, associations rely on language services to connect with multilingual audiences.

Interpro specializes in helping these organizations thrive by providing:

• Certified document translation for bylaws, policies, and educational content.
• Remote Simultaneous Interpretation (RSI) for annual meetings, panels, and webinars.
• eLearning localization to support professional development in multiple languages.
• Multilingual desktop publishing to maintain visual consistency across cultures.

Creating Community Around Communication

Co-hosted with BackPocket Agency, the happy hour was a chance to unwind, laugh, and reflect on the partnerships that make these language solutions possible. Since 2018, Interpro’s annual happy hours at ASAE have become a space to connect beyond the trade show floor and reinforce the human side of our work.

The relaxed atmosphere fostered open conversations about interpreting needs, translation best practices, and the growing demand for inclusive content. Attendees shared their organization’s challenges and goals, and the Interpro team offered insights on how strategic localization could support them.

10 Takeaways to Help You Build Stronger Member Experiences with Translated Materials

Every interaction we had at ASAE reinforced a core belief at Interpro: that language access strengthens communities.

Here are 10 proven ways to enhance member engagement with professional translation and interpreting solutions:

1. Prioritize ISO-certified quality assurance to ensure accuracy and consistency.
2. Choose culturally-nuanced translations to build trust and relevance.
3. Leverage Remote Simultaneous Interpretation (RSI) for real-time multilingual accessibility.
4. Localize your eLearning content to support diverse member development.
5. Translate bylaws, policies, and governance materials to promote transparency.
6. Use multilingual desktop publishing to maintain polished, on-brand visuals.
7. Incorporate language services into your annual event planning.
8. Invest in ongoing translation support to keep communications up to date.
9. Partner with a vendor who understands the needs of member-driven organizations.
10. Always approach translation as a strategic extension of your mission.

Building Stronger Member Experiences at ASAE, One Translation at a Time

From multilingual policy guides to real-time interpretation during national conferences, effective language solutions help associations better serve their members. Our happy hour at ASAE was a reminder that behind every successful project is a meaningful partnership.

Whether you’re just beginning to explore translation services or looking to optimize your current strategy, Interpro is here to help.

Need expert translation support? Our team specializes in high-quality localization for member-driven organizations. Contact us today for a consultation.

The post 10 Takeaways for Associations from ASAE appeared first on Interpro Translation Solutions.

Hosting an event, conference, or web meeting in two (or a hundred) different languages may seem like an incredibly difficult task.

But it doesn’t have to be.

Associations and member-driven organizations are being called to do more than ever before – not just in the services they offer, but in how they communicate. For organizations with multilingual member bases, the ability to share information inclusively across languages is no longer a luxury. It’s essential.

To help member-driven organizations understand the easy and powerful it can be to host an event in multiple languages at the same time, the Interpro team recently ventured to Holiday Showcase in Chicago, IL to showcase translation and interpreting solutions.

Whether you’re planning a multi-track conference, managing a virtual member meeting, or publishing content for your community, ensuring your message is accessible in multiple languages is critical to fostering engagement, equity, and belonging. At Interpro, we’ve seen firsthand how language can either become a barrier or a bridge – and we’re here to make sure it’s always the latter.

The Language Challenges for Associations

Association leaders often wear many hats: event planner, membership coordinator, content creator, and strategic advisor. Amid all of this, multilingual communication can feel like yet another complex layer to manage.

Here are some of the most common pain points we hear from professionals in this space:

• Events that lack live interpretation, leaving non-English speakers out of the conversation
• Translated materials that feel stiff, outdated, or inconsistent across formats
• Difficulty finding reliable partners for remote simultaneous interpretation (RSI) during virtual meetings
• Internal uncertainty about when and how to localize websites, brochures, or member communications

It’s not a question of whether associations want to be inclusive – most do. The challenge is how to operationalize language inclusion without overwhelming staff or compromising quality.

Partnering for Translation & Interpreting Success

That’s where a trusted language partner comes in. At Interpro, we specialize in helping associations navigate these complexities with ease. Whether you’re preparing for your annual conference or launching a new digital platform, we help you design communication strategies that account for your entire audience – no matter what language they speak.

During the 2024 Holiday Showcase, hosted by the Association Forum, we supported three live sessions with remote simultaneous interpretation (RSI) in Spanish and captioning in English and Spanish, ensuring that every attendee had equitable access to the information shared. This wasn’t just a tech solution—it was a values-driven choice, and the impact was immediate.

Association Forum recognized the value of this inclusive experience, and so did the attendees. Our seamless coordination with interpretation teams, speaker tech support, and captioning services ensured every voice was heard, and every message was understood.

Making Membership Communications Multilingual

Beyond events, association professionals are increasingly reevaluating their core communication touchpoints. From websites and membership brochures to monthly newsletters, magazines, and governance documents, the need for culturally accurate and professionally translated materials is clear.

One standout example is our work with the Association Forum’s FORUM Magazine. Each edition features translated and localized content that reflects the Forum’s core values, presented in a way that resonates across linguistic and cultural lines. These aren’t just translations—they’re conversations tailored for every audience.

With our help, associations aren’t just translating—they’re transforming how they connect with their members.

Document Translation of Association Forum’s Core Values

When Language is Part of the Experience

While our work is rooted in precision and professionalism, we also understand the value of connection and joy in the association world. One of the most talked-about highlights from the 2024 Holiday Showcase was none other than Buddy the Elf himself—spreading cheer, candy, and yes, a few multilingual greetings.

“The best way to spread holiday cheer is interpreting loud for all to hear!”
— Buddy the Elf, honorary Interpro ambassador

Buddy’s presence reminded everyone of the power of shared experiences. At Interpro, we believe language is what makes those experiences truly shared. Whether it’s a breakout session, a digital newsletter, or an annual gala, we ensure that your messaging isn’t just delivered – it’s understood, appreciated, and acted on by everyone.

Find Your Best Friend in Language Services

We don’t just provide interpreting and translation services. We become an extension of your team. We understand how associations operate, from the planning stages of an event to the final print of a board packet. We anticipate your needs, ask the right questions, and deliver solutions that make you look good.

Whether you need:

• Interpreting for events, conferences, or virtual meetings
• Translation of membership materials like brochures, newsletters, or web content
• Real-time captioning for accessibility
• Guidance on language strategy for your DEI goals

Interpro can support you through all of it.

Host Your Next Event, Meeting, or Conference in Every Language

The future of association leadership is inclusive, multilingual, and community-driven. Let us help you get there.

Contact Interpro today to make your next event or member communication truly multilingual—and truly meaningful.

The post How Associations Can Better Communicate with Multilingual Audiences appeared first on Interpro Translation Solutions.

Whatever your target languages or regional dialects, Interpro’s professional linguists can provide accurate, consistent translation, localization and interpreting for your audiences. Our expert foreign language translation services are available for virtually every modern language, with localization for specific vernaculars. We also provide translation services from any of these languages into English.

Subject Matter Experts In Every Language

We hand select our linguists from around the world based on our high standards for subject matter experts. Translators are always native speakers of the target language, residing in the culture where the language is spoken.

Translation and Localization for Your Language and Dialect

Some of the languages we work with are shown below, but we can provide expert services in many more. If you need translation or interpreting for a language that isn’t listed, just give us a call.

The post Interpro’s Supported Languages appeared first on Interpro Translation Solutions.

In an era where global communication is paramount, translating with AI tools can offer a revolutionary approach to breaking language barriers within companies. However, the adoption of using AI to translate is not just about embracing new technology; it’s about understanding its implications, benefits, and best practices, especially for those outside the language, writing, or editing industries. Here’s a comprehensive guide to navigating the complexities and opportunities of using AI to translate within your business.

Topics covered in this article:

• Using Artificial Intelligence Translation: Is it Cost and Time Efficient?
• AI Translation vs Human Translation
• Translate with AI: Balancing Cost with Quality
• How AI Translation Works (3 Types of Processes)
• Evolution of Translation Agencies with AI
• Is AI Right for Your Translation Needs?
• The AI Translation Services We Can (Confidently) Recommend
• Next Steps: Navigating AI Translation Implementation in Your Company

Using Artificial Intelligence Translation: Is it Cost and Time Efficient?

The question every company is asking right now: “Can using AI for translation save money?”

Artificial Intelligence (AI) translation is not just a technological innovation—it’s proven to be an investment in time and cost reduction.

Interpro has witnessed, on average, a 30% savings in project costs from companies adopting AI-based translation. However, the disclaimer is this varies based on the volume of content, languages involved, as well as the degree of localization and human review required.

The most significant benefit, however, lies in efficiency. AI translation outpaces human capabilities in speed for quicker turnaround times for projects that require fast communication channels. Ultimately, this streamlines the translation process to involve human review primarily for accuracy checks.

AI Translation vs Human Translation

Human Translation is completed entirely by humans, with high levels of personalization during the process. It usually involves some version of the Translation, Revision, and Proofreading (TRP) process to ensure the highest levels of localization and translation accuracy. For example, Interpro’s client surveys and feedback find that our human TRP process consistently has a 99.8% accuracy rate.

AI Translation is completed using one of the processes previously mentioned in the article. There is little-to-no human editing, accuracy varies, and localization levels are low to non-existent. Accuracy levels range from 50%-90% depending on the language and content type. The average cost savings from Human Translation are 30%, but again, this really depends on the type of project and volume of work.

A Blend of the Two: AI Translation + Machine Translation Post-Editing involves sending an AI-generated translation to a human translator for further quality assurance and localization. This solution seems to be the best of both humans and AI because the process is more flexible, allowing you to determine the degree of AI involvement vs human review and editing in your translation workflow. It can be as accurate as human translation while still offering some of the cost savings using AI.

Will AI replace translators?

It’s highly unlikely AI will replace human translators any time soon. AI translation tools can’t capture the semantics and complicated nuances of language for an accurate or localized translation. Like every other AI tool out there, you need someone behind the keyboard that understands the languages, context of the material, and the complexities of human emotion.

How accurate is AI translation?

Using AI to translate can have varying levels of accuracy based on several factors, including the language pair, the complexity of the text, and the context. While AI translation has improved significantly with some systems achieving accuracy rates of over 90%, do you really want a public document that reflects your company filled with 10% of errors?

In the next section we break down the particular issues with using AI to translate and how to approach the translation process with AI to produce the least amount of issues possible.

Is AI Translation Good? Understanding the Risks of AI for Language Translation

Translation agencies and translation companies like Interpro stay ahead by employing AI. Despite the advantages, though, using AI for translation comes with its share of risks.

There are five main risks when translating with AI:

Confidentiality of proprietary or sensitive materials. We cover the issues of using public domain tools such as ChatGPT for translation, but other Google Translate, AWS, and Microsoft Azure could potentially expose sensitive information to the public, compromising confidentiality.

Localization. Do you need basic things like currency, dates, measurements, addresses, and phone numbers changed to meet your global audience’s needs? AI may not account for these small adjustments. It certainly won’t account for language and cultural changes that would ensure the message is understood as you intended.

Translation Accuracy. Is the actual translation accurate or are there grammatical and spelling errors? Are the proper words being used, or is AI putting together sentences that don’t make sense? It’s easy to understand that AI might miss cultural nuances, but it makes spelling and grammatical errors just as easy.

Aligning Messaging Across Content. If you’re translating an eLearning course, does the verbiage and tone in module A match the verbiage and tone used in module B? If you’re translating compliance-related topics, do regulatory terms get translated in a way that keeps the intended message and keeps you compliant? Ensuring AI keeps your brand consistent is complicated at best and definitely requires a professional translation company.

Multilingual DTP and Formatting. A major downside to using AI translation is that your team will have to reformat the AI translation output. For a Word document, it’s easier. For InDesign documents or PDF translations, and you’ll want to add a Multilingual DTP step to avoid errors.

Translate with AI: Balancing Costs with Quality

Diving deeper into costs versus quality, it’s essential to recognize that AI, when used in isolation, may compromise the translation’s accuracy and won’t be highly localized. Recognizing this, our company advocates for a blend of AI-driven translation with a crucial step of Machine Translation Post-Editing (MTPE). This hybrid approach ensures not only speed and cost-efficiency but also accuracy, consistency across content, and adequate localization to cater to the global audience’s needs.

It’s also important to remember that the quality of your translations depends on the quality of your content as well. The more work you and your team put in first to make the initial content good, the better you set yourselves up for success later with AI translation.

How AI Translation Works: The 3 Types of AI Translation Processes

You might be asking “How can we implement AI into our translation process? What are professional translation agencies doing?” Or “Should we make the investment to do AI translation internally?”

The answer: it depends, but we’ll cover the options here.

Interpro has identified three main approaches to the AI translation process:

• a professional translation agency uses an AI translation tool like Phrase + MTPE*
• building a customized translation engine + MTPE*
• your company invests in AI tool and processes to perform the initial translation on your own, but use a professional localization agency for MTPE*

*MTPE = Machine Translation Post-Editing. You’ll note that all these options include a Machine Translation Post-Editing (MTPE) step. Again, that’s because we really don’t recommend using only AI to complete the translation process alone without a human linguist review.

Option 1: Professional Translation Agency for AI Translation Services

This is the AI Translation process that would be the best fit for most companies. And we aren’t just saying that because we are a translation agency. After consulting with our clients and internal teams this is truly the best option if you are looking for time and cost savings.

In this translation process, you’ll provide the content you want to be translated to the translation agency. They test your content with an AI translation tool and ensure the content is a good “match” based on the language translation ability within the AI tool.  If your content is a good match for translation, Interpro will recommend AI to translate.

Next, the translations will then go into MTPE. This is where they are sent to a human linguist who reviews and edits the translation. Think of editing levels and localization here as a spectrum. Do you just want to ensure the text is grammatically correct? Or do you want localization applied, like dates, currency, and measurements? Refer to the localization comparison chart to help you decide the level of post-editing you’ll require.

Option 2: Building a Customized Translation Engine

This is a rare solution because it requires your company to have expansive translation projects. But your company would be a good candidate for this option if:

• You have lots of content already translated for the translation engine to reference,
• Have other translation tools available like a translation memory, translation glossary, or multilingual style guide,
• Have lots of ongoing translation work, usually in multiple languages,
• Need the messaging to be aligned and consistent across different pieces of content where it’s important for the viewer’s comprehension that verbiage stays consistent. Example: you might have a website that references a technical manual, plus assets like PDFs and PowerPoints for sales to sell your product. It’s important for the viewer’s comprehension that verbiage stays consistent.
• Have time for the translation agency to “train” the custom engine through multiple rounds of translation.

This is where it’s important to confirm that the translation agency has a layered process and partnership approach to translating your content.

This means they should build the custom translation engine using all your translated content but layer the process with a human linguist (or two) to ensure the translation was completed accurately while applying any additional localization and brand standards that AI simply can’t provide.

A word of warning before considering this process: This process requires an upfront cost investment. Just like every other AI model for other services, your custom translation engine would require “training” with the translation process becoming more efficient over time.

Option 3: Your company invests in an AI translation tool and processes to perform the initial translation, but use a professional localization agency to review the AI output for accuracy and localization requirements.

You might be considering this option because you think it will be the best cost saver. However, that would require further analysis from your internal Human Resources team and current translation processes.

If you want total control over your translation project or perhaps already have an internal person managing your translation projects who is familiar with AI translation, this option may make sense.

However, this option may not make financial sense if your company isn’t an enterprise serving the entire globe with a translation team on staff. You may not see the cost savings once you account for the resources to hire and train internal talent + the cost of the tools required + outsourcing the MTPE to a company like Interpro. As we mentioned, the average savings when using AI to translate is about 30% when working with a professional translation team that has experience with editing machine translation output. You may not see this same cost benefit if you perform the translation yourself.

Evolution of Translation Agencies with AI

As AI technology for translation services gets more sophisticated, translation services are rapidly adapting.

“Machine translation has been around for decades” says Beshar Bahjat, Interpro’s Chief Technology Officer. “The recent AI technology revolution has dramatically increased the demand for AI services. In turn, translation technology has continued to evolve and adapt as AI services are advancing at a rapid pace. We leverage AI for select services, identifying the most cost-effective solutions for our clients. Our approach is to understand your company’s translation goals and determine whether AI can meet your needs , a human translation is a better fit or a if a hybrid solution would be your best option. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution in translation; and consulting with a specialized agency like ours will help you choose the optimum solution for your translation needs.”

At Interpro, we are committed to evolving as AI evolves. By staying ahead of the AI technology curve and continually advancing our services, we know we are providing the best translation solutions using the latest cutting edge technology as it becomes available.

Is AI Right for Your Translation Needs?

To evaluate if AI translation is right for your translation needs, consider:

• Language: AI services are highly developed for languages like Spanish, while few resources exist for Maori or Arabic.
• Subject Matter: Technical content or content that doesn’t require high levels of localization to resonate with the viewer, will generally perform best.
• Budget: Does your budget allow for AI translation + human post-editing? If you’re already translating content, the answer is likely yes.
• Service Type: The technology AI video translation is great, but other services are greatly lacking. We’ll dive into the services we recommend in the next section of this article.

Examples of some industries and subject matter that are not the right fit for AI translation services:

Medical document translation services, entail an incredibly high standard of accuracy and would not be a good candidate.

Same for marketing content that usually requires a high level of localization. Choosing a human linguist and certified translation service providers who can offer multilingual desktop publishing are crucial to the translation and localization process.

eLearning translation could be a good fit for technical manuals or standard word documents. However, it depends on the content, message intent, and level of localization required.

Similarly, legal translation services must ensure that documentations such as contracts and legal briefs are managed with precision, discretion, and legal compliance. Risking errors by using AI is not recommended.

The AI Translation Services We Can (Confidently) Recommend

If you’ve determined your language, subject matter, and budget are a good match for AI translation, what kind of services are available to you?

These are the services that we feel AI technology is developed enough to produce good results and cost savings:

• AI Interpreting
• AI Captioning
• AI Voice Over Recording
• AI Translation with Machine Translation Post-Editing (MTPE)
• AI Document Translation

Such tools can significantly enhance the translation process when paired with efforts to standardize and simplify source materials for better compatibility with AI translation.

Next Steps: Navigating AI Translation Implementation in Your Company

The journey to implementing AI translation into your company involves careful consideration of your goals, the unique characteristics of your content, and the capabilities of AI technology. While AI offers significant time and cost savings, ensuring quality requires a balanced approach and the right partnership with professionals skilled in navigating the intricate landscape.

Ready to explore AI translation for your business?

Here are the steps Interpro recommends:

• Identify the languages and content that would be suitable for AI translation. Remember, it will truly shine with AI Interpreting, AI Captioning, AI Voice-Over Recording, and Machine Translation Post-Editing (MTPE).
• Consider the level of localization you will need. Interpro’s team can help you decide what should be localized and adjusted after translation.
• Decide what type of documents need 100% accuracy and high localization and what documents have a “good enough” passable threshold.
• Determine your budget, and remember to consider costs for incorporating human review for accuracy.
• Interview translation agencies. We cover how to approach this complete process in our guide to choosing a translation company.
• Ask the translation company candidates if they can guide you on which AI solutions would be best for your specific needs. For example, Interpro offers our potential clients an AI translation consultation. We believe there is no one solution for every client. (Otherwise, you wouldn’t need a translation company!)
• Select a translation agency that prioritizes quality, understands your specific needs, and is willing to protect your confidential information through NDAs or similar agreements.
• Finally, make sure the company asks to see your files for translation before you kick off the work and provides reassurance that AI can do the job.

Choosing the right translation partner is crucial for effectively communicating your brand’s message across different languages and cultures. If you’re looking for custom AI Solutions for your business, you can contact us any time.

AI is not a one-size-fits-all solution, but it’s a powerful enabler that can be tailored to the needs of a diverse content spectrum. By partnering with a knowledgeable translation service that offers online translation services or global translation services, businesses can refine their translation processes for the highest efficiency and accuracy—thus engaging audiences worldwide more effectively.

The post The Ultimate Guide to AI Translation: Best Practices for Implementation appeared first on Interpro Translation Solutions.

A Background of the Training Landscape

Overview of Training Methodologies

In professional development, the journey of training methodologies spans decades, reflecting the dynamic nature of education and the workforce. Traditional training methodologies were rooted in conventional classroom settings, where instructors delivered content to a physically present audience. This method, known as Instructor Led Training (ILT), had been the primary modality for many years.

As technological advancements began to reshape various industries, a paradigm shift occurred in how organizations approached training. The advent of computers, the internet, and digital technologies paved the way for innovative learning methods. eLearning emerged as a transformative force, allowing learners to access educational resources and courses online, breaking away from the confines of traditional brick-and-mortar classrooms.

Moreover, the rise of eLearning brought about the concept of virtual Instructor-Led Training (vILT), where instructors could conduct sessions remotely through online platforms. This transition marked a significant shift from the traditional face-to-face model, offering unprecedented flexibility and accessibility to learners worldwide.

Evolution of traditional training to technology-driven methods

The evolution of training methodologies is intricately linked to technological progress. The shift from traditional to technology-driven methods was driven by recognizing the limitations of traditional approaches, especially in the face of changing demographics, globalization, and the need for continuous learning.

Traditional methods often struggle to keep pace with the rapidly changing demands of the modern workforce. With its asynchronous and self-paced nature, the emergence of eLearning addressed some of these challenges, enabling learners to acquire knowledge at their convenience. This marked a pivotal moment in the history of training methodologies, emphasizing the importance of adaptability and personalized learning experiences.

Importance of adapting to changing learning environments

The importance of adapting to changing learning environments cannot be overstated in the current professional landscape. The rapid evolution of technology, coupled with shifts in work structures and communication methods, requires a proactive approach to training. Organizations that embrace new methodologies demonstrate an understanding of the diverse needs of their workforce, fostering a culture of continuous learning and development.

As the workplace becomes more globalized, diverse, and digitally connected, training methodologies must evolve to accommodate these changes. The ability to leverage both traditional and technology-driven methods allows organizations to create a balanced and effective approach to training that caters to the varied preferences and requirements of modern learners.

In the following sections, we will explore the intricacies of Instructor-Led Training (ILT) and virtual Instructor-Led Training (vILT), delving into their definitions, benefits, challenges, and the potential for a blended approach that optimizes the strengths of both modalities.

Understanding Instructor-Led Training (ILT)

Definition and Characteristics of Instructor-Led Training

Instructor-led training (ILT) is a conventional approach where a qualified instructor leads a physical classroom session. The characteristics of ILT include real-time interaction, immediate feedback, and hands-on experiences.

The Benefits of Instructor-Led Training:

1. Personalized instruction: ILT offers a unique advantage of personalized instruction. Instructors can tailor the pace and depth of the material to the specific needs of individual learners, fostering a more customized learning experience.
2. Immediate feedback: Participants benefit from immediate feedback in ILT sessions. This real-time assessment enhances the learning process by addressing questions and concerns promptly, ensuring a more thorough understanding of the subject matter.
3. Interpersonal connections: The interpersonal connections forged in ILT sessions contribute significantly to the learning experience. Participants can engage in discussions, collaborate on activities, and build a sense of camaraderie with both the instructor and their peers.
4. Hands-on experience: A hallmark of ILT is the emphasis on hands-on experience. Through activities, demonstrations, and interactive exercises, participants gain practical insights and skills that are immediately applicable in real-world scenarios.

Challenges of Instructor-Led Training:

1. Geographical limitations: One of the primary challenges of ILT is its geographical limitations. Participants from different regions may find it logistically challenging to attend in-person sessions, limiting the accessibility of the training.
2. Scheduling constraints: Coordinating schedules for both instructors and participants can be intricate, especially in large organizations with diverse teams. This constraint can hinder the seamless execution of ILT programs.
3. Resource-intensive: ILT can be resource-intensive, demanding physical classrooms, travel arrangements, and printed materials. The associated costs and environmental impact can be substantial, posing challenges for organizations seeking cost-effective and sustainable solutions.

Embracing Virtual Instructor-Led Training (vILT)

Virtual Instructor-Led Training (vILT) harnesses online platforms to deliver training sessions, allowing participants to join remotely. Key features include live interactions, multimedia content delivery, and virtual collaboration tools.

The Benefits of Virtual Instructor-Led Training:

1. Accessibility and flexibility: vILT offers unparalleled accessibility and flexibility, including offering virtual interpreting for training in multiple languages in real-time. Participants can join sessions from the comfort of their homes or offices, overcoming geographical barriers and ensuring inclusivity in training programs.
2. Cost-effectiveness: Eliminating travel costs and venue expenses makes vILT a cost-effective alternative to traditional ILT. Organizations can allocate resources more efficiently while providing high-quality training experiences.
3. Global reach: vILT allows organizations to reach a global audience. This global reach enhances diversity and inclusion in training programs, fostering a rich exchange of perspectives and experiences.

The Challenges of Virtual Instructor-Led Training:

1. Technical issues: Technical issues, such as poor internet connectivity or platform glitches, can disrupt the learning experience in vILT. Overcoming these challenges requires robust technical support and contingency plans.
2. Lack of face-to-face interaction: The absence of face-to-face interaction is a significant challenge in vILT. While virtual tools facilitate communication, the depth of interpersonal connections may not match the experience of traditional classrooms.
3. Engagement and attention concerns: Maintaining participant engagement in a virtual environment poses a challenge. The abundance of distractions and the potential for disengagement require innovative approaches to ensure continuous attention throughout vILT sessions.

Blending ILT and VILT for Optimal Training

Recognizing the individual strengths of instructor-led training (ILT) and virtual instructor-led training (vILT) is pivotal for organizations seeking an optimal training strategy. ILT excels in providing personalized interactions, immediate feedback, and hands-on experiences. The physical presence of an instructor fosters a dynamic learning environment where participants can engage directly with the material and their peers.

On the other hand, vILT offers unparalleled flexibility and accessibility. It goes beyond geographical boundaries, allowing participants to join sessions from different locations and time zones. The digital nature of vILT provides cost-effectiveness, eliminating the need for travel and venue expenses.

Developing a hybrid training approach

A strategic approach involves blending the strengths of ILT and vILT to create a hybrid training model. This approach combines the benefits of both methods, providing a dynamic and adaptable learning experience.

In a hybrid model, foundational concepts and hands-on activities that benefit from in-person instruction can be delivered through ILT. Simultaneously, vILT can be employed for portions of the training that emphasize flexibility, such as theory-based sessions or collaborative discussions. This hybrid model recognizes that not all content requires the same mode of delivery and allows for a tailored approach based on the nature of the material.

Best practices for a seamless transition between ILT and vILT

Implementing best practices ensures a seamless transition between ILT and vILT. Organizations can consider the following best practices:

1. Comprehensive instructor training: Equip instructors with the skills needed to navigate both in-person and virtual environments. Training should cover effective use of digital tools, virtual engagement strategies, and methods to adapt content for different modalities.
2. User-friendly platforms: Select user-friendly platforms that facilitate easy navigation and engagement for both instructors and participants. Platforms should support interactive features, breakout sessions, and real-time communication.
3. Cohesive curriculum design: Develop a curriculum that seamlessly integrates ILT and vILT components. Ensure a logical flow between in-person and virtual sessions, maintaining consistency in content delivery and learning objectives.
4. Flexibility for learner preferences: Allow participants flexibility in choosing their preferred learning modality for certain sessions, accommodating diverse learning styles and preferences.
5. Robust technical support: Establish a robust technical support system to address any issues that may arise during vILT sessions. This includes troubleshooting technical difficulties, ensuring stable internet connections, and providing guidance on using virtual tools.
6. Evaluation and feedback mechanisms: Implement evaluation and feedback mechanisms to continuously assess the effectiveness of the blended approach. Gather input from both instructors and participants to identify areas for improvement and optimization.

By incorporating these best practices, organizations can create a hybrid training approach that maximizes the benefits of ILT and vILT, offering a flexible and impactful learning experience.

The Role of Translation in Training Programs

As businesses operate in increasingly globalized environments, addressing diverse language needs in training programs is paramount. Language diversity within teams necessitates a proactive approach to ensure effective communication and understanding.

Challenges of language barriers in Instructor-Led Training

Language barriers can impede the effectiveness of training programs. Miscommunication and misunderstandings may arise, hindering the transfer of knowledge and skills. By integrating translation and interpreting services into ILT and vILT, these language barriers can greatly reduce or disappear altogether. Here are the best solutions we’ve found to address these challenges.

Real-time translation tools: Addressing language diversity in training programs is pivotal for fostering effective communication. Real-time translation tools, including Remote Simultaneous Interpretation (RSI), are pivotal in overcoming language barriers.

RSI enables the provision of almost real-time interpreting for participants in different locations. This technology facilitates live interpretation of spoken content, allowing individuals with diverse language preferences to engage seamlessly in both ILT and vILT sessions. RSI platforms connect participants with Subject Matter Expert (SME) interpreters who possess in-depth knowledge of the training content, ensuring accurate and contextually relevant interpretations.

Organizations can allocate SME interpreters to specific sessions, enhancing the quality and precision of language interpretation. This human-centric approach ensures that nuances and industry-specific terminologies are accurately conveyed, contributing to a more comprehensive learning experience.

AI Options through RSI: Additionally, RSI can leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) to augment language interpretation capabilities. AI-driven features, such as language recognition and translation algorithms, work alongside human interpreters to enhance efficiency and address language diversity in a dynamic and technologically advanced manner.

Preparing translated training materials: Providing translated training materials goes beyond language interpretation and involves a comprehensive approach to content adaptation. In addition to language translation, consider the following aspects:

1. Desktop Publishing (DTP)/Formatting: Ensure that translated materials maintain a professional and cohesive appearance. Multilingual Desktop Publishing (DTP) or formatting services should be employed to adapt layouts, fonts, and graphics to accommodate different languages. This enhances the visual appeal and ensures clarity and consistency in the presentation of information.
2. Video Localization: In the context of vILT, where video content is often utilized, video localization becomes crucial. Videos can be localized in many different ways – subtitles, burned-in captions, voiceover, or any combination of the three. A truly consultative language partner will also tailor the video translation around the target language, dialect, culture, and other creative decisions, such as using human talent or AI for voiceover. Localization ensures that video materials resonate effectively with diverse audiences, creating a more engaging and inclusive learning experience.
3. Adaptations for Cultural Sensitivity: Consider cultural adaptations to align training materials with the cultural contexts of diverse audiences. This may involve adjusting examples, case studies, or scenarios to ensure relevance and resonance across different cultural backgrounds.
4. Diverse Media Types: Recognize that training materials may span various media types, including presentations, documents, and interactive elements. Tailor the translation approach to suit each medium, addressing specific challenges and opportunities associated with different formats.

By incorporating DTP, formatting, video localization, and cultural adaptations, organizations can ensure that translated training materials are linguistically accurate, culturally relevant, and visually appealing. This holistic approach contributes to a more effective and inclusive training program.

Ready to offer a multilingual Instructor-Led Training course?

The synergy of ILT and vILT, complemented by effective translation strategies, represents a holistic approach to training in the digital age. This comprehensive strategy addresses the challenges posed by geographical constraints, scheduling conflicts, and language barriers and paves the way for a future where learning is truly borderless and inclusive.

We hope you’re ready to begin your multilingual training either in-person or remotely!

The post Navigating Multilingual Instructor-Led Training (ILT): A Guide to Success appeared first on Interpro Translation Solutions.

Events can be hosted on-site or virtually. We’ll focus on virtual events because of their global reach and cost-effectiveness.

Remote Interpreting for Virtual Events 

There is an opportunity for event planners who prioritize multilingual inclusivity to connect with an underserved audience. 

In a recent survey, nearly half of event planners said interpreting events was not a priority – though 77 percent saw an increase in multilingual attendance at their events.  

Incorporating interpreting services in your events could appeal to these frustrated users, gaining your organization’s loyalty. 

Event interpretation services can be provided either on-site or remotely. If you’re hosting an in-person event, you’ll want to consider both options. 

For virtual events, Remote Simultaneous Interpretation (RSI) uses technology to allow each participant to listen and interact in their native language. 

For the best user experience, incorporate interpreting into your event plan from the very start of event planning. Addressing your interpreting needs last minute may make it difficult to create a seamless experience for multilingual attendees. It also costs valuable time you could spend marketing your event, registering attendees, and engaging with your audience. 

How Virtual Interpreting Works 

Remote Simultaneous Interpretation (RSI) is the gold standard for remote interpreting. Rather than the presenter and interpreter taking turns speaking, the interpretation happens in almost real-time, creating a seamless experience for the audience. 

1. The presenter speaks naturally in their native language. Their presentation is streamed through a cloud-based RSI platform.
2. While the speaker is talking, the interpreter follows along and interprets into a microphone. The interpreter’s audio is also streamed through the platform.
3. The audience watches the video stream of the presenter and listens to the audio in their desired language. In this way, every audience member receives the same presentation experience. 

The advantage of live interpreting rather than making interpreted recordings available after the fact is that every audience member can participate. 

People who want to ask a question or respond to what the speaker has said can do so in their native language, and the interpreter will simultaneously interpret their comment and the presenter’s response. 

Simultaneous interpreting is difficult to master, and the best interpreters are in high demand. Because the activity is so taxing, interpreters work in pairs, swapping every 20 to 30 minutes. 

This team also works together to research the topic and review reference materials before the event. During the event, the interpreters support one another and share notes. This will help ensure a successful event.

Coordinating Interpretation Services for Your Virtual Event 

The size and location of your event will determine the best interpreting format. Before you begin planning, consider every aspect of the event: 

• In what format will content be presented?, Slide presentations, lectures, panel discussions?
• How many people do you expect to attend, and what languages do they speak?
• What platform will you use to host the event? In our experience, an RSI platform with Zoom integration provides the best experience.
• Do you need event translation and interpretation? While the interpretation covers the presentations themselves, do you need translation of event materials such as:
  • Communication before or after the event, such as email, social media, or advertising. 

• • Communications at the event, such as signage and instructions to access the interpreting services.
  • Recordings of the presentations and their materials for increasing ROI of use. (Commonly used in situations such as Instructor Led Training.) 

Odds are, your attendees are already comfortable using Zoom for online meetings. When integrated with an RSI tool, the interpreters have their dedicated behind-the-scenes platform while the attendees stay in the familiar Zoom interface. 

Choosing the Best Interpreter 

The best technology in the world won’t save you if your interpreter is subpar. 

Remember that interpreters are not machines simply spitting out word-for-word translations. They choose their words and phrases to convey the presenter’s idea and message clearly. 

For example, an English-speaking Interpro client wanted to market a seminar to affiliates in France. The English materials used phrases like “ballpark number” in sales training – an idiom that doesn’t exist in French. Had the interpreter simply interpreted the phrase word for word, it wouldn’t have made sense to the multilingual listener. Thus, rendering your message unheard and the listener’s time wasted.  

Fortunately, the client worked with an experienced interpreter who rephrased the material to convey the message. 

This becomes even more important in professional events where industry terminology, acronyms, and jargon may be used. Your interpreter must be not only a native speaker of the target language but also a subject matter expert in the topic of your presentation (and maybe even knowledgeable of your company-specific language). 

Subject matter experts will understand how to share information so that the presenter and the audience understand one another. 

The best interpreters are: 

• Responsive and professional 
• Subject matter experts who can convey the information confidently, inspiring audience trust 
• Concerned with the quality of the interpretation above all else 
• Native speakers of the particular dialect you need 
• Certified to perform conference-level interpreting 
• Familiar with the virtual platform you’ve chosen to host the event 

Finding a qualified interpreter is a monumental task. It’s like hiring an employee – building a candidate list, reviewing resumes, checking references, confirming qualifications, and negotiating rates. 

It’s much faster and easier to work with a trusted language service provider like Interpro, which has pre-vetted and qualified interpreters ready to work with you. 

Start Early 

You can’t expect your interpreter to simply show up the day of the event, ready to go. To provide the best experience to your audience, they need to prepare. 

Send presentation materials such as slide decks and speaker notes to your interpreter as early as possible. This allows time for them to research the topic and familiarize themselves with the most relevant industry terminology in the target language. 

Localization experts can also weigh in on the visual elements of the presentation, ensuring graphics, symbols, and colors are understood the way they are intended. 

The interpreter isn’t the only one who needs to prepare. Notify speakers that the event will be interpreted while presenting it, so it’s important to moderate their speaking speed and stick to the planned material. 

Best Practices for Event Interpretation 

•  High-quality interpreters with subject matter expertise book up fast, so don’t assume you can find one on short notice. Start looking for an interpreter as soon as you have a firm event date and know which languages you will need. 
•  Provide interpreters with relevant materials and speaker notes as soon as possible before the event. Include glossaries of industry terminology, reference materials, the agenda – anything that could help them prepare to deliver a seamless interpretation. 
• Clarify your expectations of the interpreter and your internal team before the event.
• Who will host the virtual conference room? 
• Who will coordinate with attendees to ensure they have the necessary technology, meeting ID, etc., to access the event? 
• Who will address video, audio, and technical issues during the event? 
• Rehearse. Before the event, have everyone involved log in to the platform and hold a practice event to uncover any issues.
• Interpreters should be able to see the presenter while they are speaking. A reliable video stream is a must.
• Latency between sound and image should be 2 seconds or less. 

Virtual Event Interpreting FAQs 

• How do you ensure interpreter quality and performance?

  Interpro has high standards for our event interpreters. To join our team, a language professional must have a bachelor’s or master’s degree in conference interpretation or have provided interpreting services at 60 or more conferences over the past three years. If the professional specializes in a rare language, they must have some other means to demonstrate their skill in simultaneous interpretation.

  Once hired, our interpreters undergo a rigorous onboarding process to ensure top-notch performance.

• How do you handle feedback about interpreting services?

  To maintain our ISO certifications in Quality Management and Translation Services, we are committed to a culture of continuous improvement. We collect client feedback throughout and after each event to constantly improve our processes and build our understanding of client needs.

• Which languages can you interpret?

  Interpro can provide interpreters for virtually any existing modern language. 

Schedule Interpreting for Your Event 

When you know when your event will be held and which languages you need, it’s time to secure your interpreters. 

The fastest, easiest way to do this is to work with a language services partner like Interpro. Rather than hunting for qualified interpreters and negotiating with them individually, you can leave it to us to provide high-quality professionals. 

We’ll also guide you through interpreting your event for your virtual audience. In addition to interpreters, we provide industry-standard software, tech support, and a dedicated project manager to help your event go off without a hitch. 

References:

Event Industry News 

The post Interpreting for Multilingual Events: A Guide to Success appeared first on Interpro Translation Solutions.

So the big question is – how can you reach people speaking multiple languages in different locations in real-time?

The answer is remote simultaneous interpretation (also known as RSI or simultaneous interpretation).

Do you need remote simultaneous interpretation services for your next event? Contact Interpro’s RSI experts to help you navigate your interpretation options.

As business becomes more global, there is an increasing need for multilingual conference interpreting. Remote simultaneous interpretation is the answer for your next event because:

1. It’s the best choice for virtual (and often on-site) meetings.
2. It promotes language inclusivity.
3. It’s a straightforward interpretation answer (especially with the right software and interpreters).

Remote Simultaneous Interpretation Is the Best Choice for Meeting Interpretation

There are two options for providing interpretation services to your event attendees – on-site and remote interpretation.

Traditionally, on-site interpretation has interpreters physically present in the same room as the speakers. This can be useful in some cases, like if you need American Sign Language interpreters for your audience.

But what if you have a large multilingual audience and need many languages translated at once? Simultaneous interpreting could be a logistical challenge with 12 interpreters in the same room as your speaker. Not to mention the travel expenses to get that many extra people to your event!

On-site interpretation is not impossible; using soundproof booths paired with interpreter headsets and receivers eliminates the potential for clashing sounds. But if your venue is tight on space, has a limited budget, or the event is online, you may consider remote interpretation.

(The key to any interpretation project is to work with a partner who provides a project manager and technical support staff. A great partner for event interpretation will take ownership of the simultaneous interpretation process.)

What Is Remote Simultaneous Interpretation (RSI)?

Remote simultaneous interpretation is an interpretation solution that is 100% remote, using a smartphone app and headphones to provide interpreted information in real-time for multilingual conferences, events, and web meetings. All your audience will need is a strong web connection and headphones!

The “remote” part refers to the interpreters being not on-site but connected remotely to your meeting. Instead of a costly soundproof booth setup for each interpreter, the use of industry-leading technology solutions ensure linguistic comprehension for all attendees, no matter their preferred language.

Remote Simultaneous Interpretation vs. Onsite Simultaneous Interpretation

Remote simultaneous interpretation can have many benefits over traditional on-site simultaneous interpretation.

1. It’s cost-effective. RSI minimizes travel-related expenses for the interpretation team and simplifies your planning.
2. It’s logistically simple. There is a less complex venue setup when you use remote simultaneous interpretation. You can even modify interpretation assignments on short notice.
3. It’s user-friendly. In today’s world, most people own smartphones and are familiar with apps. This makes RSI an easy solution for your attendees to use.
4. It’s flexible and scalable. RSI software is cloud-based and can be used anytime, anywhere, for various languages. So whether you have one attendee and one language, or thousands of attendees with a dozen languages, RSI can accommodate your audience.

Remote Simultaneous Interpretation makes Meetings, Webinars, and Events Inclusive

Offering your content in multiple languages – for employees or customers – has become vital to businesses expanding globally. Language inclusivity and accessibility have become requirements for organizations that want to continue growing – especially with work shifting online in the past few years.

No matter the location or language of your audience, Interpro delivers multilingual web meetings in tandem with whichever platform you prefer. Whether you use Microsoft Teams, Go-To Webinar, Webex, Google Meet, or Zoom, we provide a streamlined event in accordance with the ISO 9001:2015 standard.

As you might imagine, remote video interpreting is a relatively new field. We find that KUDO is the industry-preferred software for general remote simultaneous interpretation and webinar interpretation. With a 3,000-attendee capacity per language and up to 32 languages simultaneously, you’ll have a truly inclusive experience for people worldwide in real-time.

Can RSI Work with Special Features on Video Meeting Platforms?

Technology often seems magical, and using remote simultaneous interpretation for virtual meetings is one of those cases! Interpro’s webinar interpretation and virtual meeting interpretation capabilities work with presentations and screen sharing, meaning your attendees won’t miss any critical information. RSI also works with on-demand polling, voting, and Q&A sessions, so every attendee has the best experience.

You can also record events using remote simultaneous interpretation for content re-use. This is especially helpful for on-demand virtual conferences, online educational libraries for continuing education credit, or if someone misses a meeting. You’ll provide an inclusive experience for every person who engages with your content.

Zoom Webinar Interpretation

Zoom’s recent explosion in popularity has made it a must-have tool for both meetings and webinars. And we are Interpro get asked a lot about Zoom meeting and webinar interpretation. Fortunately, Zoom interpretation is easy with—you guessed it—the right partner.

If you try to go it alone, simultaneous interpretation can get expensive quickly. Not only will you need to provide the interpreters, interpreting software, project management, and tech support, but a higher Zoom account level is also required. This adds to the time and expense invested in your meeting.

Interpretation for Zoom webinars is a turnkey service that Interpro delivers to our clients. Although KUDO is once again our technology of choice, our dedicated project managers are experts at managing simultaneous interpretation for Zoom webinars.

Facilitating Remote Simultaneous Interpretation Is Easy (With the Right Partner)

The Industry Standard for RSI Software

It’s impossible to use RSI flawlessly without investing in the right technology and the right partner to help you along the way. Interpro Translation Solutions uses KUDO RSI software and the highest quality interpreters available for your event.

KUDO is the preferred remote simultaneous interpretation software and one of the most recommended systems in the industry. KUDO was created by global interpretation experts and can be used with more than 200 languages and American Sign Language.

“KUDO is the best RSI solution we’ve found that can be used not only for on-site meeting interpretation but also integrate and work in tandem with virtual meeting software,” says Nicholas Strozza, Vice President of Marketing and Sales at Interpro Translation Solutions. “It’s used industry-wide for a reason—it works.”

Can I Use RSI Software Myself?

As a professional Language Service Provider (LSP), Interpro does not recommend trying to take on the massive project of using remote simultaneous interpretation software yourself.

KUDO is an amazing resource for conference planners and event coordinators who are looking to make their events more inclusive. But no software solution can fully replace the human experience. You need a partner who has the necessary tech stack AND provides tech support to keep your meeting running smoothly. Your partner should also be able to provide the interpreters and manage the entire process to ensure a successful event.

You can be more efficient and have a better interpretation experience working with a language partner like Interpro who takes ownership of the multilingual aspects of your event.

When working with a language partner, your remote simultaneous partner should:

1. Provide a project manager as the single point of contact for your event interpretation.
   This gives you a single contact to work with, rather than multiple interpreters, technicians, and software. In addition, it reduces confusion during the process for both you and the interpreters.
2. Manage the RSI software.
   Your partner is the language expert. They know how to make the software work for you, not against you, for a flawless event.
3. Source and schedule qualified interpreters.
   You want to ensure your interpreters can actually communicate your message correctly. Depending on your event’s language, location, and industry, your RSI partner will consider local and industry certifications and best practices when selecting interpreters for your event.
4. Communicate concerns and reference materials between you and the interpreter.
   This help minimizes linguistic barriers and ensures the interpreter is prepared for any unique subject matter terminology that may arise during the event.
5. Offer technical support before and during your event.
   Because technology is great when it works, but you don’t want to be without an RSI expert when it doesn’t.
6. Translate event materials after the event. Need the event recording subtitled in a new language? Or a post-event email with a PDF of the content provided translated? A translation agency like Interpro can seamlessly move from the interpretation services to translation services (all without changing your single point of contact mentioned in #1).

“With Interpro, you provide us the event details and languages needed, and we take care of the rest,” says Letícia Barroso, Project Manager at Interpro. “Each event receives a dedicated project manager to coordinate the meeting interpretation and makes sure the interpreters are prepared during the live event. We also assign a tech support professional who handles sound checks and can handle any issues on the fly. We never leave the planners to face RSI on their own.”

How do I get RSI for my next virtual event?

If you’ve decided to work with a translation agency like Interpro Translation Solutions, you’ll want to provide:

1. Your event date. The further in advance you can provide your event date, the easier it is to secure an interpreter.
2. Interpretation language requirements. Easy – what languages do you want your interpretation in?
3. Event topic. Will your event discuss medical terminology? Technology? Legal? Finance? Safety? Knowing the content of your event can help us source a subject matter expert when possible and prepare them for any language terminology that may occur during your event.

Working with Interpro Translation Services is a hassle-free interpretation solution! We provide seamless on-site or remote simultaneous interpretation services with industry-standard software, experienced interpreters, tech support, and a dedicated project manager.

Get an Interpretation Quote for Your Event

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The post Remote Simultaneous Interpretation for Events: A Comprehensive Guide appeared first on Interpro Translation Solutions.