The cost of a translation error
Translation errors can cost major international firms up to 80% of revenue. SDL International says eight in ten large firms suffer errors leading to financial losses, delays and even compliance fines...
Translation errors can cost major international firms up to 80% of revenue. According to SDL International, eight in ten large firms suffer translation errors that cause major financial losses, delays and even fines for noncompliance with qualification requirements.
Forty percent of surveyed employees at large companies said translation errors had delayed product launches; 7% had encountered fines for inaccurate translations. Companies clearly need to invest more in translator training and selection. SDL marketing chief Chris Boorman said: "Today it is unacceptable for inaccurate translations to have such serious consequences. With new technologies accelerating product launches and manufacturing, speed is the key to success, so any delay means substantial lost revenue."
The survey also found:
- Half the companies surveyed had up to ten separate departments working on documentation.
- Only 37% planned to make a serious effort to resolve these problems.
"International companies cannot operate fully in one language," Boorman added. "Most organizations still rely on outdated corporate communication methods, creating major costs in many areas: market leadership means nothing if you cannot communicate properly with customers. The only way to succeed abroad is to communicate in customers’ native language. This principle should underpin large organizations’ international policies. As we know, it does not matter how loudly you shout: if you shout in an unknown language, you still will not be understood."
Forty percent of surveyed employees at large companies said translation errors had delayed product launches; 7% had encountered fines for inaccurate translations. Companies clearly need to invest more in translator training and selection. SDL marketing chief Chris Boorman said: "Today it is unacceptable for inaccurate translations to have such serious consequences. With new technologies accelerating product launches and manufacturing, speed is the key to success, so any delay means substantial lost revenue."
The survey also found:
- Half the companies surveyed had up to ten separate departments working on documentation.
- Only 37% planned to make a serious effort to resolve these problems.
"International companies cannot operate fully in one language," Boorman added. "Most organizations still rely on outdated corporate communication methods, creating major costs in many areas: market leadership means nothing if you cannot communicate properly with customers. The only way to succeed abroad is to communicate in customers’ native language. This principle should underpin large organizations’ international policies. As we know, it does not matter how loudly you shout: if you shout in an unknown language, you still will not be understood."
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