This can happen to any company: an urgent and usually quite long translation comes up, preferably on Friday, and quick decisions need to be taken. But however fast the translation must be done, many companies have discovered that a rushed decision as to the provider of the translation can lead to very poor translations, delays and a fair amount of trouble with clients and suppliers. Any company that needs translations should be aware of the best ways to select translation providers that can deal with large amounts of text on tight deadlines.
The first thing to look for are the references of the translation agency you consider for the job - most of the respectable translation agencies will offer you references on their websites or on demand. Look for instances where other clients needed urgent translations and try to see if these instances are numerous and successful. While most translation agencies will give you a quote on your translation and will claim they can deliver it on time, there are some translation providers with an outstanding reputation when it comes to time - and you might want to get your hands on one of these.
Another thing to consider is the professional attitude of your interlocutors. Respectable translation agencies will try to get as much information as possible about your project, and will offer you reasonable estimates on the time needed to perform the translation and on the cost. Try to avoid translation agencies that offer you dump prices on urgent translations, especially if you are not familiar with the quality assurance systems of these companies.
Most agencies and translators will ask larger fees on urgent works, and this is something to be expected: a tight deadline can mean more translators will work on your project, because no translator can work 24 hours a day. Try not to be blinded by a cheaper-than-cheap quote, especially on urgent projects: companies offering these prices might work their translators too hard and pay them too little, and this will most likely mean poor quality and the need to proof-read again and again, or even redo the translation.
Most companies will benefit from having a list of reliable translations providers, but the best advice for those who haven't got such a list yet is to follow the steps above, and, most importantly, to look for a translation agency that is open to their needs and eager to educate its clients and which is flexible enough to be able to provide quality translations on tight deadlines.
Barvinschi Adina works for Lingo24 Translation Agency in London, a provider of high quality translation services
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