Best-Fit Translation: Quality and Automation

How do mature localization programs achieve high-quality translations while building automated workflows that save time and resources?

With the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), the translation landscape is evolving faster than ever. Yet, despite these technological leaps, one element remains irreplaceable — human expertise.

In our discussion with Tyson Shelley, Director of Localization at Language Network, several key insights emerged about how organizations can balance quality and efficiency in their localization strategies. As part of our ongoing Expert Insights series,  this article explores the latest trends shaping the future of translation quality and automation.

Achieving High-Quality Translation: Key Steps That Matter Most

Guaranteeing translation quality involves much more than linguistic accuracy — it requires the right mix of people, processes, and technology. Over years of experience, we’ve identified the most effective steps that consistently deliver results:

• Third-party translation reviews to ensure unbiased quality control.

• Translation memory and glossaries for consistency across projects.

• Customized style guides aligned with client voice and brand identity.

• Quality assurance checks in both source and target languages.

At Language Network, we don’t just aim for “good enough.” We go the extra mile to ensure your translations are accurate, culturally relevant, and scalable. Learn more about our localization services designed to optimize every stage of your content journey.

"Cascade Designs has consistently received high-quality and locally relevant translations for hundreds of our products from Language Network. Together, we've established an efficient process that involves third-party industry reviews to ensure accuracy and intent. Language Network truly understands our products, often catching errors we've missed. We trust their services implicitly and rely on their accurate cost and lead-time estimates. Despite numerous translation agencies contacting us over the years, Language Network has proven to be unparalleled."

Building an Effective Content Transfer Method

Another essential element of localization success is defining how content moves between systems — known as the content transfer method. This determines how efficiently content is prepared, delivered, and integrated for translation.

Depending on resources and infrastructure, transfer methods can vary widely. However, one principle holds true: the process must minimize errors and reduce manual effort.

Consider this scenario:
A project manager receives hundreds of HTML files by email, each needing translation into multiple languages. The manual process of re-uploading, formatting, and hyperlinking each translated file in the CMS can quickly become overwhelming. This scenario mirrors real challenges faced by many organizations before adopting automation.

Manual vs Automated Workflows: A Real-World Example

A fast-growing tech company once relied on manual translation processes within its in-house web infrastructure. Over time, bottlenecks appeared, and the web team couldn’t keep up with content updates. During a major website refresh, over $100,000 was spent — only for translated files to sit in a queue, awaiting integration.

By contrast, investing that same budget in translation management software (TMS) integrated with their CMS could have streamlined the entire process. Automated workflows would have ensured continuous translation updates without disrupting other departments — a true best-fit approach to translation quality and automation.

According to research by CSA Research, organizations that benchmark and measure localization maturity (including workflow automation) significantly improve their global readiness and process effectiveness.

Key Questions for Optimizing Content Transfer

When advising clients, we often begin by asking:

1. What Content Management System (CMS) does your organization use?

2. What steps are required after receiving translated content to go live?

3. Are there existing integration options that could reduce manual tasks?

By answering these early, clients can identify automation opportunities that save time, minimize errors, and enhance translation consistency.

Clarifying Common Questions: The Language Network Method

A frequent question in the industry is whether a Translation Management System (TMS) is the same as Machine Translation (MT) tools like Google Translate. The short answer: they serve very different purposes.

A TMS facilitates workflow automation, while MT provides automated translation output — and both can complement each other when managed correctly. At Language Network, we focus first on making content transfer seamless, then on advising clients about the right translation method for their goals.

For example, our AI Translation + Human Reviewapproach combines cutting-edge AI translation technology with expert linguistic review, ensuring the efficiency of automation without sacrificing human quality.

Research from Nimdzi Research highlights how generative AI and human-in-the-loop systems are reshaping the language services industry — but emphasizes that human judgement, domain knowledge and cultural awareness remain essential.

“While AI can streamline content management, it’s not a complete substitute for professional translators. Human expertise ensures nuance, tone, and intent are preserved — elements AI alone can’t fully replicate.”
— Tyson Shelley

The Language Network Advantage

Our strength lies in the balance between technology and talent. Through partnerships with translation technology providers and an exceptional network of linguistic experts, we deliver tailored solutions for every client’s unique workflow.

Whether you’re looking to automate your localization process or elevate translation quality, our goal is to ensure your global content resonates accurately, efficiently, and authentically. Explore all of our translation and localization solutions to see how we can help your organization scale globally.