We’re excited to announce that a year ago, our Translation and Localization Department achieved ISO 18587 certification for Machine Translation Post Editing (MTPE)! This certification signifies our commitment to going beyond just offering MTPE services and becoming true Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) in the field.
Why We Waited to Announce Our Certification
Unlike our previous certifications, we deliberately held off on sharing this news. We spent a year:
- Testing new Machine Translation (MT) engines, comparing their strengths and weaknesses across languages.
- Researching the nuances of MTPE for various languages. We discovered MTPE is a powerful tool for some languages, while others require a more human-centric approach to meet our quality standards.
Now, we’re confident that we can introduce you to the world of MTPE with the expertise it deserves!
ISO 18587 Machine Translation: Why It Matters
ISO 18587 establishes guidelines for ensuring high-quality translations through post-editing machine-translated content. This standard ensures our post-editors have the necessary qualifications and the post-editing process itself is efficient and consistent. This translates (pun intended!) into consistently high-quality translations for you, across languages and domains.
The Benefits of ISO 18587 Certification
Obtaining ISO 18587 certification offers a range of benefits for both our company and our clients:
- Demonstrated Commitment to Quality: It showcases our dedication to providing the best possible MTPE services, meeting recognized industry standards.
- Enhanced Efficiency: Standardized processes and quality criteria streamline the post-editing workflow, reducing turnaround times without sacrificing quality.
- Risk Management: Mitigates the risks associated with poor-quality translations, such as inaccuracies or inconsistencies that can damage your brand reputation.
Real-World Examples of ISO 18587 and Machine Translation in Action
- Fast and Accurate Onboarding Materials: We recently used MTPE to translate extensive onboarding documentation for a client on a tight deadline. The high-quality translations ensured the new hires were able to get up to speed quickly, keeping their important project on track.
- Nuances of Marketing Campaigns: Machine translation alone wouldn’t suffice for a creative marketing campaign translation. ISO 18587’s emphasis on context ensured our post-editors were equipped to identify and handle subtleties like humor, delivering a culturally-appropriate and successful translation.
- Consistency Across Projects: During a large, multi-language document translation project, light post-editing using MTPE helped us identify inconsistencies within the original English text itself. We were able to communicate these inconsistencies to the client and ensure a consistent user experience across all languages.
Overcoming Challenges and Educating Clients
One of the biggest challenges was ensuring our post-editors adapted to the new MTPE workflow. ISO 18587’s guidelines were instrumental in providing them with the necessary training.
We’ve also encountered clients who initially have misconceptions about MTPE, fearing it might resemble a free, low-quality translation tool. Through clear communication and a focus on the human expertise that remains central to the process, we’ve been able to dispel these myths and demonstrate the value that ISO 18587-certified MTPE brings to the table.
A Commitment to Continuous Improvement
As a company that already held two ISO certifications, we’re strong believers in the value these standards bring. In the case of ISO 18587, our team has experienced a significant improvement in collaboration, communication, and overall workflow for MTPE projects.
A Final Word from Our Director of Translation and Localization
Patry, our Director of Translation and Localization, shares her perspective: “While Machine Translation might seem like a threat to some in our industry, I believe it’s important to embrace progress and use AI to our advantage. Just like learning a new Translation Management System (TMS) or Computer Assisted Tool (CAT), MTPE can become an essential part of your translator’s toolkit, boosting efficiency and productivity. Just as going back to a simple spreadsheet wouldn’t be ideal after using a TMS, once post-editors get the hang of high-quality MTPE, they’ll find it a valuable skill.”
The Future of Translation is Here
We believe that ISO 18587-certified Machine Translation Post Editing represents the future of translation services. It allows us to combine the power of machine translation with the irreplaceable expertise of human translators, ensuring high-quality, efficient, and cost-effective solutions for our clients.
At Linguava, we are here to support you as your partner in language access. We are also ISO 9001 and 17100 certified, ensuring quality translations. As a leading provider of language services for the healthcare industry, we offer a wide range of services to help medical practices incorporate language access successfully. These include Translation and Localization , Scheduled Video Interpretation, Video Remote Interpretation, Over the Phone Interpretation, and American Sign Language Interpretation.
If you have a file ready to translate, get your file analysis and free quote here.
