When you have multilingual communications to manage, it can quickly lead to a complex situation. That complexity can easily become resource-intensive and unwieldy. Quality and consistency are much more challenging to achieve in those circumstances unless steps are taken to introduce efficiency. That’s why translation management system tools are critical.
The tools that come with translation management systems (TMS) help automate workflows in ways that ensure operational success. In this guide, we’re focusing on the tools available. It’s the best way to highlight what enterprises can achieve. They’re crucial to the process of choosing a language service provider as your TMS partner.
What Is a Translation Management System (TMS)?
A TMS is a software platform that includes automation and organization tools to streamline the processes of translating and localizing communications. It delivers a center where you can manage all your content. One of the key advantages of a TMS is that it delivers a level of management that enables efficiency and quality.
A TMS can be a crucial part of your strategy when it comes to localization and compliance. It saves time and acts as an organizing tool. In turn, this makes it easier to manage the multiple languages that you need to offer to LEP users to stay compliant. It also helps accelerate the roll out of communications to multiple markets with accurate and consistent localizations.
You can find partners that use systems with the right tools to suit your needs. Translation management system tools vary, but these are the key features to expect:
- CAT or Computer-Assisted Translation tools
- Automation
- Terminology management
- Integrations with other software
- Translation memory
- Collaborative tools
- Quality assurance checks
- Analytics and reports
Why Enterprises Need the Right TMS Partner
Finding the right TMS partner is about getting access to the translation management system tools that match your needs. That’s particularly important in regulated industries, such as education and health care. You’ll need a partner who uses tools that address data privacy concerns. They also need to deliver the speed required without reducing the quality.
Some key factors to consider when looking at a TMS for enterprises are:
- Security. - What safeguards are in place? Explore data protection and how the TMS infrastructure defends against potential threats.
- Automation. - Does it provide the efficiency you need? Look at workflows, task allocation, text extraction, and formatting?
- Scalability. - Look at the languages and localization options available. Find out if it’s scalable to suit your budget and needs as you grow.
- Reporting. - Does it track the required metrics? That includes quality, turnaround times, costs, and more.
You get the best-in-class tools when you pick a top language services provider, like Language Network. The process of choosing a localization vendor is also about getting access to the tools you need.
8 Translation Management Tools You Should Know
The best way to understand translation management system tools is to look at the options. We’ve explored eight popular tools. Let’s look at their advantages and disadvantages and which industries they suit best.
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Plunet
Plunet is as much a business management tool as it is a platform for translations. One of its core benefits is the ability to set up workflows for language access automation and to manage projects. It also offers a range of reports on a variety of metrics.
One downside is that it doesn’t have its own CAT, but it does integrate with most of the options on this list. It’s best for project management, invoicing, and integrations. However, it’s missing some features. Thanks to features like secure file exchange, it’s suitable for regulated industries.
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XTRF
This cloud-based platform is known for being intuitive. The main advantages are the workflow automation and vendor coordination. These are two crucial ways that it speeds up translation processes. It’s also useful for localization, including education localization tools.
The flexibility it provides in terms of project management means that scalability is this software’s strength. That’s ideal for educational institutions that have busy and quiet periods. However, in terms of customization, the software can be on the pricier side.
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Phrase (formerly Memsource)
Phrase is a comprehensive cloud-based solution with strong APIs. It has over 50 integrations. Plus, the analytics section delivers insights and reports with actionable data. The pricing structure includes limits on words processed per year and Machine Translation Units (MTUs). That makes it less scalable than other options.
It’s powered by AI, which makes it easy for teams to manage multilingual content workflows. It adapts to context and brand voice. So, it’s particularly suited to enterprises translating and localizing marketing materials.
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Smartling
Smartling offers multiple functions, including project management, through its jobs tab. There’s also a workflows section, analytics, and a CAT tool. The tools focus on speed and quality. That’s why this option is suitable for content-heavy enterprises with localization workflows.
Industries with repeated text and specific terms, such as legal, insurance, and healthcare industries, can benefit from the glossary and real-time active translation memory. While the AI and Machine Translation (MT) tools are useful, there are some errors.
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XTM Cloud
XTM Cloud’s focus on security makes it a popular choice for enterprise and government use. The efficiency and scalability it offers also make it a suitable translation software for healthcare. It automates workflows, centralizes localization assets, supports over 800 languages, and has advanced reporting options.
While the wide-ranging features are an asset, they also create some of the platform’s downsides. They often require quite a bit of fine tuning. Plus, finding the right features and functions can make using it time-consuming.
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MemoQ
This translation project management tool includes several efficient features. It has project tracking, workflow management, automated quality checks, and reports. It facilitates a collaborative translation environment that helps speed up processes. It’s suitable for use across various sectors, including technology, health, and life sciences, and for use with multimedia localization.
The pricing isn’t based on word or character limits. That makes the scalability more flexible for certain enterprises. Although the platform is user-friendly, some aspects involve a steep learning curve, and support for some issues could be better.
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Crowdin
This AI-powered software delivers localization and translation tools. It has over 600 apps and integrations, suiting those looking for agile development, especially tech companies. Tracking project progress is straightforward, thanks to the dashboard. The tools are particularly focused on websites, apps, marketing content, help centers, and games.
Its high security standards make it a good choice for government translation management. Plus, it’s HIPAA compliant. There can be some initial issues for new users, although the training and customer support are good. Integration setup isn’t always easy.
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Trados Studio + Language Cloud
RWS Language Cloud from Trados offers machine translation through its Language Weaver. While there’s an annual allowance, it’s easy to add more characters without needing to upgrade the package, making it scalable. The cloud-based platform allows for flexible working both online and offline, with translation and review through any browser.
This enterprise language technology delivers centralized translation memory and real-time access to terminology. However, its ability to handle large files isn’t always reliable. More shortcuts would increase speed and efficiency even more.
What to Consider When Evaluating a TMS Partner
While you should consider costs, your needs, customer support, and scalability, it’s also important to look at the bigger picture. When you evaluate a TMS partner, the golden rule is: don’t buy tools; buy strategy. The truth is that translation management system tools optimize processes, but they don’t solve problems.
To solve problems with optimized processes, you need the right partner to complement and help drive your strategy. Look for signs that their approach and the tools that they use align with your purpose. Elements can include compliance, industry knowledge and expertise, and compatible tools.
When it comes to compatibility, pick out your key platforms. When evaluating a partner, find out if the software they use can integrate with your LMS, CMS, or EMR. It’ll make your working relationship much smoother.
Questions To Ask Your Language Partner
Besides asking about their tools and compatibility, there are a few other crucial questions to ask. When evaluating a language partner, make sure you bring up the following:
- Do you use an enterprise-grade TMS?
- Can we access the reports or project dashboards?
- What data protection measures are in place?
- How does your platform ensure secure file transfers?
Simplifying Translation Management Starts with the Right Tools
In order to overcome language barriers, a TMS is an essential tool for enterprises. The current environment brings increasing demands regarding compliance, speed, and efficiency. Ignoring the technology available costs time and money, whether you’re in tech, healthcare, education, or the legal sector.
When finding a language services partner, a service-focused and tech-enabled provider will bring the most benefits. Looking to modernize your translation workflows? Let’s talk. Language Network supports organizations with top-tier TMS tools and customized localization strategies.