XTM Insights

Why is having a translation management system critical to your business?

Why is having a translation management system critical to your business? illustration
Melissa Lorraine
AuthorMelissa Lorraine

Having your content translated is non-negotiable if you want to be successful on a global scale. However, it can also seem like a complicated process and become something we’d rather not have to deal with. It often ends up being managed by teams that already have many other things to think about, like marketing or product teams. As a result, translation can still frequently be an afterthought, not a true part of a company’s strategy. If you find yourself in this situation in your company, then this article is for you.

The first thing to look out for is blind spots. You might even be choosing not to look into it too deeply because it’s something you don’t want to be too invested in—after all, the status quo bias can be a very strong influencer; things are fine as they are. That’s understandable. The challenge is that your blind spots could be, and probably are, costing you money. You may not realize it, but a lot of factors can make the creation of content in multiple languages inefficient, slow, and more expensive than it needs to be. These could include:

  • Hidden costs, without the ability to centralize budget information
  • Outdated vendors, as information isn’t updated automatically
  • Manual processes, which take time and are error-prone
  • Inconsistent processes, as each team works independently
  • Inability to leverage existing assets, which leads to increased costs
  • Struggle to keep up with new content requirements, creating stress and confusion
  • Lack of control, increasing the likelihood of things going wrong unexpectedly
  • Lack of visibility, leading to decreased accountability
  • No access to data or automatic reporting
  • No consistent quality assurance to track linguists’ performance

Each of these can be fully or partially resolved by investing in the right Translation Management System (TMS). In fact, not having a TMS is similar to not having a HR system, a CMS, or an invoicing system. However, your blind spots could lead you to believe that a TMS will not produce the ROI you need to justify it. Let’s shed some light on these, so you can make the best decision for your business. 

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