Professional Translations Make Professional RFPs

Requests for Proposal are key business documents for procurement. They indicate to potential suppliers that a business would like to make a purchase; detailing their specific requirements. This allows potential suppliers to submit bids explaining how they are the ones best able to meet these requirements. Thinking globally expands the reach of the RFP to include international suppliers. This makes the process more competitive. It can be beneficial to the company issuing the RFP to think globally not only because it gives them access to a larger pool of potential suppliers, but also because suppliers in different countries can offer different competitive advantages. Without translation and cultural knowledge, it would be impossible to take advantage of such benefits.

Requests for Proposal are the start of a competitive process.

As such, it is critical to make a good impression. This not only applies to the RFP itself, but also to the bids from potential suppliers. When writing these important documents, it is important to write them with the final reader in mind. Where translation is required, it is the translator’s words, in the foreign language, that this key audience will be reading. This shows just how important it is to select the right translator. It makes little sense to put lots of time and care into creating an excellent RFP and then ruin the impression it makes with the final reader by having it translated by someone who is not trained to do the job well.

Localization is also key when creating an RFP for potential suppliers in other countries.

First of all, business practices may be different and a professional translator would know the other culture well enough to adapt the document to these differences or to make useful suggestions on how to amend it. Also, language and culture is more than simply words. In a situation where good presentation is key, it is important not to offend cultural sensibilities or inadvertently say something that the audience may find offensive. A good translator would be aware of such situations and help to avoid them. This is why in situations where making a good impression is vital, the translation stage must be treated with as much care and importance as every other stage in the RFP process.

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