4 Practical Tips for Choosing a Translation Management System

Choosing a translation management system (TMS) is no small task. With the wide variety of options available, selecting the right solution can be overwhelming. The right TMS can make the translation process more efficient and cost-effective, while others could lead to your business wasting time and money. 

If you’re considering what features your business needs in a translation management system, you’ve come to the right place. This article will provide you with tips for choosing a translation management system that best fits your needs. 

By considering and the aspects outlined below, you can rest assured that you’re making an informed decision when it comes to selecting a TMS.

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Consider the scalability of the system

A scalable TMS is especially important for businesses that plan to grow over time. As the business expands into international markets, the number of languages needed for localization will also increase. A scalable tool can handle this growth without any disruption in service. Moreover, you can customize it to meet your specific needs, such as integration with other software or providing additional features like machine translation.

In addition, if a TMS is scalable, it provides cost savings in the long run. By investing in a system that can grow with the business, companies don’t have to worry about replacing their current system as they expand into new markets and languages. This eliminates the need for costly upgrades and allows them to focus on other aspects of their business.

Find out if it comes with a built-in terminology database

This feature can help ensure accuracy across multiple languages by offering a single source of truth for terms and phrases used in translations. A TMS can help create a centralized repository of terms you can use across different languages and contexts. This helps ensure that all translations are consistent with each other, as well as with the source language.

The TMS also allows for easy access to the terms, so that translators can quickly find the correct one for any given context. Additionally, you can use a TMS to track changes in terminology over time, allowing translators to keep up with any new developments or changes in usage.

Having a well-defined terminology database also helps improve accuracy by providing translators with clear definitions of terms and their meanings. This makes it easier for them to choose the right word or phrase for any given context, ensuring that their translations are accurate and precise.

Ensure that the system integrates with other tools and platforms

Your translation management system should be able to connect with other platforms like content management systems or marketing automation software. By connecting a translation management system with other tools, you can take advantage of automated processes such as machine translation, which can significantly reduce the time it takes to translate content.

Additionally, integrating a translation management system with other tools allows you to easily share linguistic data across multiple teams and departments, ensuring that everyone is on the same page when it comes to translations.

Confirm that the system has advanced automation capabilities 

Automation can save time and money when dealing with repetitive tasks in localization projects, so make sure the system offers options such as automatic tagging and automated quality assurance checks.

Automation is especially useful when it comes to managing large projects with multiple languages. A TMS can automate tasks such as assigning translators, tracking progress, and ensuring quality control. This makes it easier for project managers to keep track of all the different elements of a localization project. 

Additionally, automation features can help reduce errors by automatically checking translations against source material and providing feedback on any discrepancies. It can also help you manage your budgets more effectively. With a TMS, you can set up cost estimates for each language and track expenses throughout the project, which means you can better allocate resources and ensure that they stay within budget.

Choose the right TMS

When deciding which translation management system is right for your organization, make sure to consider not only these but all of the factors involved. These include cost, customer support, training resources, and more. Research various options online and speak with industry professionals who can provide insight into the different features each system offers. 

Lastly, it’s important to keep in mind that a translation management system should help ensure quality translations while also streamlining processes to save time and maximize efficiency. With these tips in mind, you’ll be able to find a solution that meets your needs and helps you achieve success with language translation projects.