Translation projects are becoming increasingly complex, and the growing number of target languages and intensifying time pressure are just two of the reasons for this. There are two areas that need to be considered when it comes to meeting the requirements of multilingual translation projects. One is the translation aspect, particularly the actual process of editing the text, and the other is the parallel development of software support for project and process management and its benefits for the translation industry. One thing is clear: these areas do not develop side by side. However, what connects both is the acceleration of the translation process and, therefore, faster delivery to the customer.
While word processing applications were used only at large companies in the 1960s, they became accessible to the general public as well in the early 1980s. The advantages of electronically processed texts were impressive. Uniform font sizes made text easy to read, ensured a clean visual appearance and sped up the writing process. Additional functions, such as automatic spell-checking, the creation of indexes, templates and the ‘find and replace’ function reduced error rates and made it easier to create text. A breakthrough came in 1974 with Bravo, the first WYSIWYG – what you see is what you get – word processing software. This meant that text was displayed on screen as it would appear when printed. Microsoft Word for Windows followed in 1989. The need for software in the translation industry was also recognised early on. The first database for translations named TRADOS – a word standing for TRAnslation and DOcumentation Software – came in 1984 and was available as a plug-in, or Workbench, for Word. The terminology management system for MultiTerm followed in 1990, before SDL bought the company in 2005, becoming one of the leading providers of translation technologies. Google had gone public a year before and, in 2006, launched its machine translation service – then still a statistical system. Since 2016, the online giant has been using neural networks for more than 100 languages. It can therefore be concluded that technological development regularly adapts to trends in the translation industry – and vice versa.
Software from SAP – System Analysis and Program Development, which was founded in 1972, remains widely used to this day for processing projects in real time. It is designed for a number of different areas, such as personnel management, enterprise resource planning, purchasing, inventory management and auditing, and can also be used for countless other business areas, including translation services. In 2008 – a good 36 years later – Plunet created its first management solution for translation agencies and language services of companies, authorities and institutions. Tailored specifically to the product of translations, the system can handle any size of project and all processing cycles. Appropriate solutions for the respective order management model can also be found for external language service providers, in-house translation teams and corporate language departments. The processes are automated, from the initial enquiry to the quotation and acceptance of the order to final delivery to the customer. The range of services on offer also includes real-time reports and other additional options. In summary, there is a customised translation management strategy for every company – what is important is that it is compatible with the processes and requirements of customers.
The field of translation is characterised by double-layered digitalisation – 1) translation technology and 2) translation management. One development seems more diverse than the other; nevertheless, both offer many opportunities for the translation industry, at least at the moment.
When EVS Translations was founded in 1991, Word for Windows 6.0 had just been launched. The company started using the first SDL Trados CAT tool – then called simply Trados – shortly after the software was released in 1996. In response to the ever more demanding requirements of project management, Plunet was implemented in 2009, also shortly after it was released. Since then, CAT tools and terminology management systems have become indispensable and order processing without central platform solutions is now unthinkable.
EVS Translations is looking forward to making use of future developments from translation technology providers and integrating them into its own translation solutions and processes. This combination has been enabling us to provide our customers with reliable, specialist translations for more than 25 years.
