If you’re trying to conduct business on a global scale, you already know the challenges involved: breaking down language barriers; adjusting marketing campaigns to respect cultural differences; keeping track of legal and/or regulatory issues from one country to the next, etc. The list goes on and on. Fortunately, there are professionals available who can help you to meet all these challenges and more — interpreters and translators. The difference between an interpreter and a translator is simple: an interpreter deals with spoken language and an interpreter works with written documentation. To conduct successful business dealings on a global scale, you’ll need both. The benefits that you and your organization will enjoy as a result of the services provided by an experienced language professional may be obvious, but just in case they’re not, let us point out a few:
Enhanced communication
Whether you’re describing an upcoming project to a non-native-English-speaking employee, arranging a shipment of raw materials from a vendor in Asia, or describing the agenda for an upcoming meeting with clients in the Middle East, clearly communicating with the people you do business with is absolutely essential to the success of your day-to-day business operations. The best way to achieve that kind of communication is with a professional interpreter or translator; preferably one who is not only fluent in the target language, but also one with experience in your industry.
Understanding cultural differences
Communicating with people from other parts of the world isn’t just about language. The cultural differences between peoples from different countries can be significant, and not understanding or respecting those differences can be a deal breaker in business. In addition to converting one language to another in order to facilitate better communication, one of the greatest advantages of employing a skilled language professional is gaining a better understanding of these cultural differences. Your interpreter can instruct you on how best to greet your Japanese clients during a business meeting, or which packaging images are most appropriate for your South African customers, for example. Understanding not only differences in language but in culture as well is called “localization,” and it plays a crucial role in conducting business on a global scale.
Expanding your reach
Employing the services of language professionals will allow you to penetrate markets that you might have once thought to be unreachable. No longer will you need to avoid conducting business with vendors or other companies because of communication barriers. Professional interpreters and translators can – quite literally – open up a whole new world of business opportunities.
Gaining insight into global regulations
Choosing the right language professional – that is to say one that is preferably a native speaker and familiar with the standards, laws and regulations that impact your business dealings in the country/countries you intend to do business with – is a huge benefit to your organization Anyone who has engaged in global business transactions knows exactly how much these regulatory issues vary from one country to the next, and how much of an impact they can have on your business. At the very least, having a linguist onboard who can provide clear and concise translations of laws, standards and regulations can prove to be an invaluable asset.
Now that you know what a vital role language professionals can play in your global business interactions, the only thing left to do is to find the right interpreters and translators for the job. And the best place to start your search is with a reputable translation company. They can assess your business needs and match them with the right language professionals – those that will provide you and your company with all the benefits of high quality interpretation and translation services.