Although India itself has an old and venerable language and culture, it entered the world stage as a modern nation comparatively recently, declaring its sovereign status only in 1950. Since then it has struggled with both preserving its culture and finding its place in a rapidly changing world, and now, in the 21st century, not only is it poised to become the most populous country on Earth, with over one billion people, its economy is on the rise. India is slowly but steadily become an economic powerhouse as its population combined with financial acumen continue to bring the country more prosperity and prestige.
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Independent market research firm CSA Research recognizes ITC Translations as a leader in the multi-billion global translation, interpreting, and localization industry.
People worldwide prefer consuming information in their own language. Meeting this expectation â and sometimes the legal requirements to do so â fuels an indispensable multi-billion global industry that provides translation, interpreting, and localization. Based on verified data from a representative sample of 462 LSPs, independent market research firm CSA Research has named ITC Translations as one of the providers leading the delivery of language services globally, ranking it as the 94th largest LSP in the world and 25th largest in North America.
ITC, a language services agency, supports organizations in their international development by providing translation, localization, interpretation, DTP, SEO, audiovisual services and more.
ITC’s Founder and President, CĂŠline Imbaud, explains: âAmong a wide range of language service providers, professionalism, agility, technological performance and human qualities have enabled ITC to become one of the leaders in the sector.â
âMost people donât recognize the value of interpreting or translation until they canât understand somethingâand the absence of spoken or written content in their languages happens far too often,â comments Dr. Donald A. DePalma, CSA Researchâs Chief Research Officer. âLanguage service providers and technology developers deliver essential translation and interpreting services.â
The rankings are based on confirmed revenue from 2019âCSA Research found that the market that year for language services and supporting technologies reached US$49.60 billion.
About CSA Research
CSA Research is an independent market research company helping companies profitably grow their global businesses and gain access to new markets and new customers.
csa-research.com | @CSA_Research | media@csa-research.com
Doing business in your own country is difficult enough, so how can you prepare for working across borders?
Entrepreneurs who want to take their business to a different country must be ready to face all sorts of cultural, commercial, financial and legal differences. These can vary greatly from one country to another. So it is important to be well prepared before setting out to conquer new markets. Companies need to have an understanding of the international context and more specifically of the market they are targeting. This will help them become aware of the challenges, and will also make it easier to follow the procedures.
The VIKU method is an easy way to ensure nothing gets overlooked:
V â Values: research the values of the host country, its traditions, history, and customs. An understanding of the basic rules of protocol is also recommended when making contact for the first time. Etiquette rules vary from one country to another so it is helpful to be adaptable.
I â Interest: show a high level of interest in your contact person and future business partner. This shows respect for their way of life and their way of conducting business. For example, in some countries it is normal to start with a lengthly exchange about the health or even the family of your future partner, before negotiations begin.
K â Know how to communicate⌠preferably in the foreign language, or at least in English. It is recommended, however, to know how to be polite, such as saying âhello,â âthank you,â etc. in the language of the person you are negotiating with.
U â Unique: each culture is different, and therefore unique. This means you should not start negotiations in Cameroon in the same ways as you would in Thailand, for example.
Selling in foreign markets is beneficial for any company that takes the time to prepare a proper strategy. It is advisable to seek training and to gather information as you embark on the journey towards a signed contract. Working with a professional translation agency is one key step in preparing for success in international markets. Contact us today to learn how we tailor our process to your business needs.
Businesses donât succeed without spending money in the right ways and places. Of course, controlling your overall operating costs is incredibly important for your bottom lineâspending too much without worry can destroy your business quickly. But itâs important that any business take the time to consider where theyâre spending their money and how they can get the best value for their investment.
Itâs easy to assume that you should always go with the absolute cheapest translation you can find, but this isnât the case. In fact, itâs better to look at translation services as an investment in your business instead of an expense. Consider some of the ways that investing in quality translation will help you.
- Global Markets â Thanks to the Internet, fast global shipping, and other modern conveniences, itâs easier than ever to reach a global marketplace today. But in order to do so, youâll have to be able to communicate with them correctly. That means translating your text and information into a language they can understand with the right local nuances.
- Better Connections â Who you know and who you work with can have a major impact on your future as well. Being able to interact with businesses and organizations in other countries could connect you to more resources, tools, and partnerships. But without effective translation, itâs impossible to let this take you where it really should.
The two points above are the main reasons that translation is so important. But itâs also important to keep in mind the reasons why you need professional, high-quality translationâin other words, why just turning to a cheap solution isnât always the right call. Look at some of the benefits you gain from investing in high-quality translation solutions.
- Accuracy â The main benefit is obviousâyou get accuracy. Unless the translator is fully fluent in both languages and also has plenty of experience in your field of work, you may end up with shoddy translation. This can cause you to lose business since your message isnât coming through properly. Youâre spending money on your translation regardless. Itâs important to spend enough to get it right.
- Safety and Compliance â Another reason to go with a more professional translator is easy to overlook. Mistakes in translation could lead to compliance issues, safety problems, and more. You need to deliver the right message to stay legal and fully compliant, and that includes making sure that your message is accurate in all languages. Otherwise, you risk legal action and more.
- Branding â Your message deserves to be delivered properly, and doing so will help extend your brand identity. Itâs important to use creative translation or transcreation to deliver that message properly.
The simple fact is that when it comes to translation, you canât afford to not invest the right way. Spending money on effective translation makes a huge difference in the future of any organization, and ITC Translations can help. Contact our team today to see the difference we can make in your future.
We live in a world that is shrinking every day. Fast travel, quick shipping, and the rise of the Internet have all meant that itâs easier than ever before to reach the entire globe. And odds are that your website has already been viewed at least a few times by people outside your native country. While this is great news for businesses looking to expand their reach and maximize their potential, it also brings up a unique challenge: website localization.
Understanding more about the basics of website localization is important so businesses can continue to grow, evolve, and reach their ultimate goals. Read on for the quick version of website localization whys and hows.
What Is Website Localization?
Website localization is nothing more than the process of fine-tuning a website and its content so it provides the same experience to those from another country or those who speak another language. Essentially, itâs making sure that an international audience can view your page and get the same information from it that a local visitor would. This can include things like:
- Converting all currency and measurements
- Adjusting images or icons so they fit local cultures
- Translating text to convey the same meaning as the original content
From the images to the text, localization spreads your brand to other countries effectively and accurately.
Why Does It Matter?
This is an easy enough question to answerâbecause it helps you build your companyâs future. Localization allows you to reach out to potential customers and partners around the world. Your message will be clearly understood by all visitors, your brand will be apparent no matter the user, and youâll be delivering the right kind of user experience so you can expand your bottom line in a meaningful way.
Getting the Right Results
Once you understand what it is and why localization matters, the next step is obviously to complete the process properly. This can be tricky, and many times businesses try to use a software solution that will automatically translate all text.
But remember that this does so using a very strict code, and that language is much more fluid than this. You may have a single phrase or slogan that when translated word for word doesnât mean the same thing it originally did. Or you may have many pieces of content that lose their intended meaning and impact after being translated.
The right option for most is to invest in professional translation services since your website is a reflection of your company and its quality. Reaching a wider market is a key part of any business or organization strategy, and the right kind of localization does just that. Itâs an investment worth making.
To get the best results from your website localization efforts, youâll want the pros. Contact ITC Translations today to find out more about how we can help you reach a wider audience than ever before.
Translating your brand across borders can be a delicate process. Virgin explains the challenge faced by U.S. company Clairol when introducing their âMist Stickâ curling iron to a German audience: âmist in German slang means manure.â Another example of brand-gone-bad is when âAmerican baby food company Gerber came up against a similar problem in France, a country where the word âgerberâ is similar to the slang word for throwing upâ (Virgin).
When launching your brand in another country, one of your top priorities should be understanding the local culture. Working with a language expert from the start can help. According to Virgin, âThe right people on the ground will ensure that the overarching concept fits that region [and] ensure that the end product is flexible enough to use in other markets.â
Three Important Areas
Translating and marketing your brand is important, but there are three areas of your business that need attention if you want to reach the masses around the world.
- Internet and website content
- Mobile data
- Video content
Internet Content: Your website is the key to your business. It represents who you are, what you do, and why youâre the best choice for consumers everywhere. Your website should have translations on the landing pages and informational areas, but a good marketing strategy includes appropriately localized content. Engaging blogs and educational articles can make you a thought leader in your industry and draw people in to see what else they can learn.
Mobile Data: If you havenât optimized your mobile content, youâre already two steps behind. According to Forbes magazine, âDigital publishers must optimize their websites for mobile users and start thinking mobile first in all of their designs. Almost 60% of all searches are now from mobile devices.â People are attached to their mobile phones more than ever before, and having a mobile presence now will carry your business well into the future âas a staggering 94% of millennials own smartphones and use their mobile devices for everything these daysâ (Forbes).
Video Localization: More people are using translation services for localizing their audio and video projects. Professional services can make video content linguistically understandable and culturally relevant. In a world where technology has given people instant access to video reports and stories, thereâs never been a better time to take advantage of the opportunity to use it for your business.
Start with a Professional Translation Team
Preparing your business to reach new markets starts with the help of a professional translation team. At ITC Translations, we set ourselves apart by putting talent and technology to work for you. Our team of professional linguists is hand-picked from around the world based on their knowledge of the language, understanding of the culture, and expertise in the industry. Your legal documents can be translated from French to Turkish, and your surgical procedure documents can be translated from Japanese to Korean all without missing a beat. Get your business on board with a company that caters to what you need to better your business. Contact us today.
Your website is the key to your business. Itâs the digital face of who you are and what you do. When consumers search for businesses online, they want to be directed to a website. Businesses that donât have a website are often left out in the cold as consumers click away to find a business that does.
The Absolute Need for a Website
Your small business needs a website. It doesnât matter what business youâre in. Blue Corona explains how consumer behaviour has changed to adapt to modern technology by providing this example.
The telephone was a disruptive new technology in the late 1800s and changed the way consumers did business. As more and more households began to use the telephone directory to find local products and services, business owners realized advertising in it was a smart bet. By the 1930s, the majority of U.S. and Canadian households used the directory on a daily basis.
Then came the World Wide Web. As more and more consumers realized they could find what they needed online faster and more effectively than a phone book, behaviour shifted away from using the printed directory. By 2011, more than 59% of consumers were already going online to find local businesses. In 2019, that number has reached 97%.
The Absolute Need for Localization
Consumer growth has gone from the neighborhood to the world.
Now that you have a website, you need to optimize for cultural transmission. Consumer growth has gone from the neighborhood to the world. Translating your website into multiple languages meets todayâs consumer demand. While English is still the top language of the Internet with over one billion users, itâs closely followed by Chinese at 804 million users, Spanish at 337 million users, and Arabic at 219 million users (Digitalmag.com).
Much like the way that online searching has replaced the phone book, worldwide business has replaced the local shop.
The Absolute Need to Plan Ahead
You might not plan to localize your website this year or next year, but you must keep certain things in mind as you fill your website with content today. Culturally-specific references, puns or geographic issues will have to be translated and localized into proper context for your target audience. The words you write today can become a jumble of confusion when youâre ready to take the next step. To more easily localize your content, find ways to relate to your audience without using jargon or sarcasm. Simplify terms now that could become complicated to translate later.
If you have a specific tone that you want to use across your brand, be sure that itâs appropriate in other countries. Informal tones work well in a North American business context, but not so well in Japan. In cases like this, youâll need to find a translation company with the expertise to take your words and make them work wherever they go.
Our translators work across many industries to provide the right words and tone to represent your business needs. As you move into a new era in global business, choose a partner who can move with you. Contact us today to learn more about our multi-language pairs and how we can help you roll with consumer demand.
Though English is one of the top spoken languages in the world, not having the ability to translate other languages âcan be one of the biggest mistakes a businessâespecially those in the financial services sectorâcan make,â says World Finance.
Itâs a Big World Out There
Translation is often the last thing that businesses think about when making plans and setting goals. However, with the rapid pace in which globalization is occurring each day, it should be on the top of the list. Translation has the power to make or break your business. Here are some eye-opening factors to take into consideration for any company planning to spread its wings in other countries. In some of the most important countries for business transactions, only a small percentage of people can speak English fluently:
- 5.2% of the Russian population
- 5% of the Brazilian population
- 0.75% of the Chinese population
The most popular languages that many businesses are looking to translate include:
- Spanish
- French
- German
- Chinese
- Russian
- Arabic
- Portuguese
- Polish
- Indonesian
- Malay
Additional languages depend on the other areas where a business plans to extend their reach, but three popular languages for translation include Swedish, Italian, and Norwegian. Thatâs 13 high-powered areas of the world that a business can miss out on if choosing to work only in English terms.
Technology Can Lack Important Aspects
In an age where the reputation of a company is almost as important as what they do, leaving media reports, device instructions, and news reports in the hands of a machine is risky.
Some businesses believe that grabbing the latest translation app will solve all of their problems, but this just isnât true. Translation apps and devices are great for traveling to a foreign country where the locals understandâand even get a laugh out ofâa mistranslated word. Asking someone where the washroom is or ordering eggs benedict is simple enough when Google gives you the right phrasing. But how well do these apps work when it comes to a business plan, a marketing campaign, or corporate media relations?
In an age where the reputation of a company is almost as important as what they do, leaving media reports, device instructions, and news reports in the hands of a machine is risky. Nothing can replace the power of human connection and communication. Clear communication relies on knowledge of not only the company culture, but the culture of the audience being addressed. The right tone and conveyance of emotion is just as important as the words being translated.
A High-Quality Choice
ITC works with over 1500 professional translators who not only speak your languages, but have experience in their respective fields. We approach each corporate translation project with a focus on accuracy, consistency, and cultural awareness that can bring bountiful benefits to any business. As the world continue to grow, grow your business right along with it to avoid being left behind. Contact ITC today to help you get where you want to beâin any language.
The state of world politics, finance and even prestige is dynamic, constantly changing from one decade and century to the next. In the 19th century, no one would have said the USA would be the premiere nation of the world, and in the 20th century no one would have said communist China would have one of most powerful economies in the world, but things change, and countries do too. In the 21st century, there are new countries emerging from the shadows of their past to quickly become new sources of opportunity and global leadership. India is quickly becoming one of those nations to watch.
An economic powerhouse
India is slowly but steadily become an economic powerhouse as its population combined with financial acumen continue to bring the country more prosperity and prestige.
This means that with a larger, affluent population in its future, there is an opportunity for people outside the country to reach that sophisticated market, but only if they can be understood.
As with many countries, there is a segment of the population that can understand English, a legacy of Indiaâs colonial history with Britain, but far and away, the native language of the country, Hindiâas well as other dialectsâis what guarantees clear communication with its sizable market. Additionally, unlike other markets, India is one of the few nations, like the USA and Japan, that has a highly developed film and music industry that itself has been attaining global reach. The âBollywoodâ film infrastructure of India is incredibly prolific and has created a sophisticated audience in India that is ready to embrace all types of media, provided that it is crafted with the high standards that they are already accustomed to.
Local market forces
And thatâs where translation services like those offered here at ITC Translations come in. Whether it is for business, entertainment, education, or professional needs, being able to reach out to the sizable Indian market with targeted, localized content opens many doors for increased distribution and a new, massive audience. However, this is a country with centuries of culture, history and tradition. It means that simply creating something in one language and translating it word for word into Hindi, Bengali, Marathi and other dialects wonât be enough when competing with local market forces that understand the nuances of each region. This is where crafted, localized content becomes important, with messages that donât just speak the language but understand the culture and traditions of the targeted market.
If you have something you think youâd like to bring to the growing Indian market, thereâs never been a better time to look into translating it. ITC Translations is here for you, to help you bring your vision to new parts of the world. Get in touch with us to see what we can do for you.
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