How Do International Companies Choose a Translator? – 5 Criteria More Important Than Price
What do international corporations look for when selecting a translation partner? Why do they choose the safest option rather than the cheapest offer? Discover global standards in this article.
In the local market, many companies look at the "price" column first when searching for translation services. However, the rules are different in the global arena. Companies like Google, BP, Samsung, or international law firms relegate price to secondary or even tertiary importance when selecting a translation partner.
But why? Because for them, the risks posed by "cheap translation" (loss of reputation, litigation, data leaks) cost far more than the service fee.
If you also want to manage your business according to international standards, you must know these 5 golden criteria that global companies use when selecting a translation center.
1. They look for a "process," not a "freelancer"
International companies trust established systems, not individual translators. They want to know:
Who is translating?
Who is editing?
Is there a Quality Assurance (QA) stage?
They typically demand ISO 17100. This standard ensures the document passes through a "translator -> editor -> proofreader" chain. One person's error is caught by another.
2. Data Security and Confidentiality
This is perhaps the most critical point. Financial reports, new product patents, or tender documents of major companies are "confidential."
Requirement: They demand that the translation center sign a formal NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement).
The Difference: An amateur translator might send documents via unsecured email or public Wi-Fi. Professional centers use encrypted servers.
3. Technology and "Translation Memory"
Global companies practice smart budget management. They do not want to pay twice for the translation of the same sentence.
Solution: They choose companies that utilize CAT Tools.
As a result, these programs store every translated sentence in memory. When a similar document is submitted a year later, the company does not pay for repetitive parts or receives a significant discount. This means 30-40% savings in long-term partnerships.
4. Industry Specialization
An international company entrusts a medical document to a translator specialized in that specific field.
Criteria: They ask the project manager: "Does the person who will translate this document have a medical education?"
It is not enough for the text to be fluent; the terminology must be accurate.
5. Agility and Scalability
Today you might need 5 pages, but tomorrow you might suddenly need a 500-page urgent document.
For an individual translator, this can sometimes be difficult.
International companies choose agencies with large teams that can mobilize 5-10 translators for a single project simultaneously.
As CETA LLC, we have built our operations precisely on these international principles. Your documents are just as valuable as those of the mentioned international companies.
✅ We provide a full guarantee for the confidentiality of your documents.
✅ We save your budget using CAT Tool technology.
✅ We apply a dual verification system (Translation + Editing).
Overcome your business's language barrier with professional standards.
Are you looking for a reliable and long-term translation partner for your company? Contact us to receive our corporate partnership proposal.
Contact: 051-511-02-92