7 Criteria to Select LSP

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Types of LSP

Each localization field requires different skills and technologies. For example, I18n requires programming skills. Technical translation often requires knowledge of technology and terminology. 

LSP services can be broadly categorized into “products” and “language services”. Some LSPs in the ranking develop and offer the products such as Translation Management System (TMS), Neural Machine Translation (NMT), Computer Aided Translation (CAT), Community Translation System, Terminology Management System, and Translation Quality Assurance System (QA).

These are some LSPs that provide such products.

The other LSPs provide the language services, which are translation and localization services. Those services are categorized by the following fields. 

  • Localization Product Implementation: LSPs select and implement localization products that meet the client’s needs.
  • Document Translation: This service is offered by almost all LSPs.
    • General Documentation
    • Specialized documents (legal, patent, IT, literary, etc.)
  • Desktop Publishing (DTP) localization: This is the localization of printed materials (advertising images, books, etc.)
  • Software and other IT products (I18n) localization: program configuration changes and code modifications to make software, applications, and IT services more adaptable to localization in each region.
    • Games
    • Applications
    • Software
    • Cloud services
    • Technical support
  • Website localization: We modify images, website design, text, etc., to suit the localization.
  • Video translation: This includes subtitling, voice-over, and image changes for videos.

7 Criteria to Choose LSP

When selecting an LSP, it is important to balance performance and budget considerations and their areas of expertise that match your business. It is necessary to get quotes from several LSPs that match your market using LSP lists such as Languagego.com. The following aspects should be considered.

  1. Expertise for the target market
  2. The latest technologies and skills for the target market
  3. Experience
  4. Estimated cost
  5. Estimated schedule
  6. Reliability as a partner company
  7. Ease of communication, including time zone and languages

If you need assistance in selecting an LSP, you can use LSP’s consulting and research services to assist you in the selection process. 

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