Post by habiba123820 on Nov 6, 2024 5:02:30 GMT -5
Language service providers (LSPs) are notoriously unreliable. Every couple of years, a localization manager will outsource localization to another service, hoping that this one will be better than the last. Maybe the last LSP charged your company thousands in hidden fees.
Maybe they’ve provided translations that were initially correct but gradually became unacceptable. Heaven knows you’ve been burned before. If your history with LSPs feels like a bad breakup, it’s time to take appropriate steps to ensure your next partnership is a good one. You need a long-term relationship built on trust, accountability, and transparency.
When you finally have a good language service provider on your side, you’ll realize the joy of interacting with a vendor who truly delivers value to you and your business. We want that for you. Let’s take a look wordpress web design agency at how to choose a language service provider. Start looking for that unicorn relationship early in the sales cycle.
You can learn almost everything you need to know about an LSP by examining their pricing structure—which you should absolutely do before signing a contract. By following these four steps, you’ll be able to avoid standard LSP pricing tricks and find partners who are truly worth your time.
4 Steps to Choosing the Right Language Service Provider
Step 1: Consider the rate per word
When you’re looking to hire a localization service, the first thing you should consider is their per-word rate. But be warned – this has become one of the most common bait-and-switch mechanisms in our industry. You can expect to see every major LSP on your list advertising a low per-word rate. Sounds great, right? The problem is that dishonest companies will lure you in with a cheap rate and then add extra, unexpected, and perhaps hidden fees. Over the course of your engagement, you’ll end up paying more than you would if you had signed with a competitor with a higher per-word rate. Start by looking for a mid-range per-word rate. That way, you’ll have a better chance of establishing an accurate budget for your total localization costs. And be prepared to look beyond this pricing metric to get the full picture.
Step 2: Worry about the details
Next, grab a magnifying glass and look for all the hidden costs an LSP might add to your bill. Look for policies on:
Translation Memory (TM). How much does this company charge for 100% matches? Even though perfect matches from TM require virtually no work from the translator, many LSPs will still take advantage of this opportunity to squeeze a few extra pennies out of you.
Downloaded files. If you are not working with a translation platform that is fully integrated with your CMS, how much will they charge you to download the files? Some LSPs will charge $2.00 to $5.00 per page for a PDF downloaded from their repository. Yes, this is absolutely absurd.
Voiceovers. Many LSPs challenge their clients to find a lower voiceover price than what they’re offering – but are they including all the additional fees? Items like engineering costs, studio time, director’s fees, and casting calls can add up quickly.
Most dishonest translation service providers get away with charging their clients small amounts. Make sure you pay attention to the small details before signing a contract, as they can reveal questionable business practices that end up costing you thousands of dollars.
Maybe they’ve provided translations that were initially correct but gradually became unacceptable. Heaven knows you’ve been burned before. If your history with LSPs feels like a bad breakup, it’s time to take appropriate steps to ensure your next partnership is a good one. You need a long-term relationship built on trust, accountability, and transparency.
When you finally have a good language service provider on your side, you’ll realize the joy of interacting with a vendor who truly delivers value to you and your business. We want that for you. Let’s take a look wordpress web design agency at how to choose a language service provider. Start looking for that unicorn relationship early in the sales cycle.
You can learn almost everything you need to know about an LSP by examining their pricing structure—which you should absolutely do before signing a contract. By following these four steps, you’ll be able to avoid standard LSP pricing tricks and find partners who are truly worth your time.
4 Steps to Choosing the Right Language Service Provider
Step 1: Consider the rate per word
When you’re looking to hire a localization service, the first thing you should consider is their per-word rate. But be warned – this has become one of the most common bait-and-switch mechanisms in our industry. You can expect to see every major LSP on your list advertising a low per-word rate. Sounds great, right? The problem is that dishonest companies will lure you in with a cheap rate and then add extra, unexpected, and perhaps hidden fees. Over the course of your engagement, you’ll end up paying more than you would if you had signed with a competitor with a higher per-word rate. Start by looking for a mid-range per-word rate. That way, you’ll have a better chance of establishing an accurate budget for your total localization costs. And be prepared to look beyond this pricing metric to get the full picture.
Step 2: Worry about the details
Next, grab a magnifying glass and look for all the hidden costs an LSP might add to your bill. Look for policies on:
Translation Memory (TM). How much does this company charge for 100% matches? Even though perfect matches from TM require virtually no work from the translator, many LSPs will still take advantage of this opportunity to squeeze a few extra pennies out of you.
Downloaded files. If you are not working with a translation platform that is fully integrated with your CMS, how much will they charge you to download the files? Some LSPs will charge $2.00 to $5.00 per page for a PDF downloaded from their repository. Yes, this is absolutely absurd.
Voiceovers. Many LSPs challenge their clients to find a lower voiceover price than what they’re offering – but are they including all the additional fees? Items like engineering costs, studio time, director’s fees, and casting calls can add up quickly.
Most dishonest translation service providers get away with charging their clients small amounts. Make sure you pay attention to the small details before signing a contract, as they can reveal questionable business practices that end up costing you thousands of dollars.