How beneficial are computer-aided translation tools for translation services?

What are the advantages of computer-aided translation tools, and to what extent are they used? Andrä AG addresses these questions in a survey specifically designed for translation service providers (Language Service Provider = LSP).

Tools are already in use

The answer to whether electronic tool-aided translation (CAT = Computer-Aided Translation) is used is clear: the vast majority of respondents (85%) are already working with CAT tools. Only 14% of all participants work without any special software. Fifteen percent have different programs in use, depending on the customer. The majority of respondents handle their translation projects with MS Office and project management tools. Only 15% use a translation management system (TMS) with a project management component. Eleven percent of respondents use no software at all for the project management.

Requirements of a software solution

Customers and prospects for a TMS in the translation service provider segment mainly hope for significant time savings through the use of specialized software. Prospects expect a comprehensive solution: order management (81%), billing functionalities (77%), and file format independence (73%) play the most important roles.

Expected sector growth and innovations

For the future, more than 90% of all respondents consider trends and innovations in the field of computer-aided translation as relevant. Only 8% of respondents do not care about innovations. The vast majority of participants (74%) still consider machine translation as not yet mature, and is not relevant at all for 17% of the respondents. Only 9% of respondents already integrate machine translation in their translation process.

The future outlook is positive. The overwhelming majority of respondents expect a growth in the industry in the coming years. Thirty-five percent of respondents even expect growth in the double digits. Meanwhile, only 9% of respondents do not expect industry growth in the coming years.

Conclusion

Software for computer-aided translation is already widely in use. Savings in project management exist, but at a moderate level. The future looks bright with an expected growth in the industry in the coming years. Technical innovation is important, but the skepticism about machine translation remains.

About the survey

The survey was conducted as part of a dissertation at the Andrä AG. The aim of the survey was to explore whether and how the use of a translation management system can sustainably improve the management and production of translations and what potential benefits can be obtained.

Further Informationen

Common Sense Advisory 2014 The Language Services Market: 2014

http://www.commonsenseadvisory.com/AbstractView.aspx?ArticleID=21531

Top Six Reasons Why LSPs Buy a Second TMS 2014

http://www.commonsenseadvisory.com/AbstractView.aspx?ArticleID=22246