Putting aside the jargon and special vocabulary we use in the translation industry, I am trying to describe the different levels of how translation is organized in large corporations in plain English. Read on, and compare them all. If you want to reach Level 3 and get the most of the process, you will need an experienced company like us.

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Level 1 – total disorganization + no translation memory + no terminology db

Every department has something to translate and they choose individually their preferred translation partners (individual translators or translation companies). They send and receive translations but no translation memory (TM) is created. The company pays full price for the repetitions every time. Translation costs remain high. Terminology database is an unknown expression.

Level 2 – partially organized + some translation memory + no terminology db

Some departments choose a common translation vendor and request the translation memory and, as time goes on, they get more and more discount because of the repetitions. Still, they have not laid down the groundwork for a central localisation and translation strategy. They have heard something of the existence of terminology databases but are not using any.

Level 3 – organized – central Xlation (translation) and L10N (localisation) strategy + terminology database

Localization and translation is strategically planned. All departments have the same vendor who is responsible for the local or remote translation server, where the translation management system (including translation memories and terminology databases) is installed. By far the most cost-efficient solution. If a term or segment has been translated, it never has to be translated again. As time goes on, the costs are reduced by 60-70% compared to Level 1.