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A wide range of suppliers and clients

The production, processing, assembly and transport chains are very internationalised. This is often due to cost issues, but also due to know-how and in some cases, the location of raw materials. The most telling example in this respect is the oil and gas industry, which is undoubtedly one of the most globalised industrial sectors. In this field, countries themselves are in the driver’s seat, since giants like Russia and the Middle East do business all over the world through nationalised companies, involving countries like Brazil, Mexico, Norway and Algeria, and other equally key players. These countries then connect with the rest of the world to respond to crucial demand on a global scale. It is easy to understand why this industry in particular is a trendsetter when it comes to multilingual content.

Precise terminology

Whether the industrial sector is producing or processing goods, it relies on increasingly sophisticated techniques and technology that require translations to have a high level of linguistic precision. Linguists must therefore be aware of the content’s technical nature, the specificity of the company’s products with regard to its market, the regulatory environment and the cultural context. Each factor contributes directly to the recipe for a quality translation, and they should be treated as an inseparable whole.

Our multilingual services make sure that this link is respected. This is ensured by the content editing stage in particular,  whereby the review is entrusted to a second linguist who compares the target text to the source text, paying particular attention to its overall coherence. This double reading guarantees the optimal quality that has, among other things, made our reputation.

In order to make a thorough list of all terms and anticipate any comprehension issues before the project starts, we work on the assumption that there is no such thing as a “stupid question”. Do not hesitate to ask any questions, so we can approach the translation project with complete clarity.

Finally, we sometimes work on creating, editing and making a termbase consistent if requested by the client. This usually involves having a coherent internal database that can be used by our teams to write content and then translate it. This work, which is often overlooked for lack of time, is nevertheless very important. It reinforces future work and makes sure that everyone speaks the same language. It also highlights the terminology specific to the company, which forms its identity and has priority over that used in the market. Learn more > embase

Managing multilingual projects

Multilingual projects should be entrusted to an experienced project management team or an in-house localisation manager who oversees the entire internationalisation strategy for the company’s content.

This is essential to guarantee consistency between languages, to render the spirit of the source documents as accurately as possible and to respect the same instructions with the same level of commitment to quality. A single point of contact can then manage the project and ensure it is completed under the best conditions. This gives you more peace of mind and the possibility of staying focused on your core business.

Being able to adapt to each of your target audiences

Each country, and even each region within a country, has its own language, its own culture and its own codes. And in each location, the population can be segmented by generation, occupation, social status, etc. This adds up to a lot of scenarios! This means that the linguists will need to know how and to whom they should present your content by understanding the specific language to use. Is your document aimed at professionals in your sector, lawyers or your commercial target audience?

Localising your content fulfils this need for precision. Our linguists always translate into their mother tongue and are in daily contact with their culture and the current events in their country. They know who they are talking to and how to go about it. They know your terminology and strive to make your tools, products or instructions as easy as possible to understand.

Huge volumes of documents

The main challenge for industrial companies is managing the large volumes of documentation, training materials, contracts, sales brochures and other internal or external communications, whether they’re technical or not.

Whatever the content, the notion of consistency is important because every text that your company releases or uses internally contributes to your brand image. Even if it may seem like a data sheet, a contract or an article are very different documents, users expect them to be written in your unique voice. As we have mentioned, the use of well-defined terminology contributes directly to this. When a company has a high volume of documentation, it generally appoints an in-house team to organise and manage this content. In addition to referencing work for documents in the source language, the team must also take care of the translated resources. Most of the time, it is this team in the company that interacts with translation companies, while getting help from the legal or marketing departments for requests that sometimes require more specific instructions.

Confidentiality

Finally, the confidentiality and security of your data is paramount. We know how industrial companies are vulnerable to espionage. The challenges are sometimes very strategic and go so far as to involve national security issues.

You therefore need to check two sides:

In terms of the resources used for translations, at Version internationale, we require all our linguists and partners to sign confidentiality agreements. We also sign one with our clients, who can choose to use a document provided by us or their own.

When it comes to IT, we use reputable suppliers to ensure that our IT infrastructure and data is secure. That means that everything is hosted in the cloud via two international partners who have all the necessary security certifications and who provide IT security for major companies on a daily basis. No data is stored on our local computers.