CASE STUDIES

Capstone: Website Proxy Translation

INDUSTRY: TRANSLATION

Throughout the past year, an increasing number of clients have shown an interest in website translation. As companies are becoming more global, they want to reach a wider audience without being limited to English-speaking countries. One of the services provided by US Translation Company is website proxy translation. Here is a case study on how we tackled a recent website translation using this method.

The website in question is one of the more scalable translation proxy projects we have done. We encountered some new challenges, such as dynamic generated content (i.e. JavaScript) and filtering out content given by reports/files/posts/etc. from actual website related content.

Going into this project, our main plan of attack was to prepare. We first narrowed down the content to a list of URLs/Pages the client wanted to include. Due to the size of the website, they decided to exclude News pages and Blog posts. Knowing exactly which URLs were needed gave us control from the start and made it possible to give the client an exact quote based on word count. Once the desired content was extracted, we loaded it into our translation software and the translator got started.

As with all of our translations, the next step was Quality Assurance (QA). Once the translator had finalized her work, QA started its review in MemoQ, using the confirmed URLs from the client as a reference. The Live View in MemoQ enabled QA to show exactly what the translation would look like on the proxy site. One challenge we ran into with the Live View was that it didn’t consistently show all translated text in context. Some translations that were shown on one page didn’t show as translated when used on an alternate page of their domain. Another issue that we discovered was missing JavaScript (JS) content in our MemoQ file.

This is where the online platform of our proxy provider proved helpful. They use Workbench as their translation software and through our partnership with them we were able to access this as well. Translations that weren’t showing up in MemoQ did show up in Workbench, so we knew they were present on the actual translation proxy site. Inconsistent segments were taken care of, as Workbench only counted each segment once, regardless of how many times it appeared on the URL. Workbench went as far as providing the temporary domains so that QA could switch back and forth between the translated segments and the temporary domains, showing the translation in context.

Once QA signed off on the translation, we were ready to send the temporary URLs to the client for their own internal review. However, as we were about to send these over, our proxy provider advised us that they detected JS-related content that the original content extraction had not picked up. They were able to determine that the content came from a location-based API. After some back and forth with client, it was confirmed that the JS content needed to be translated, so we sent it to our linguist. Because of the smaller size of this content, we were able to get the text out to the translator and translated all within 1 business day.

At this point, we sent the temporary URLs to the client, who ended up providing us with a handful of preferential updates to terminology. We immediately implemented these changes on the proxy and in the client’s translation memory, so we would have it available for future projects. While reviewing the temporary domains, our client came back with some unexpected news; they informed us that they needed translation for the subdomain portion of their website and would like some of the translation from the root website to be used in the subdomain. Since the subdomain had a different root URL than the main website, it was not picked up by the original content extraction.

Though we didn’t plan for this subdomain, we were able to work with our proxy provider, translation software, and linguist to add the subdomain translation to the original translation project. With translation primed for QA, our client came back with a list of Sub-URLs needing translation from the subdomain, and from those Sub-URLs, they only wanted certain areas translated. We selected the necessary content from the sub URLs, sent this to the translator, and filtered out the unnecessary content (which would be left in English). From there, we were able to hand off the updated subdomain project to our QA team, after which we sent it off for another client review.

Now we were ready for the next step: publishing. We knew from experience that unexpected issues tend to come up at this stage, so we had allowed for two weeks of publishing time at the start of the project and had made the client aware of this timeframe.

To start off, we provided the client with 3 sets of CNAME values: one for the original root project, the second for the JS error code, and the last for the subdomain (Note: Even though we had already connected the source project to the error and subdomain projects, we still had to publish all 3 projects separately). After the values had been provided to the client, they corresponded with their hosting company to publish the CNAME values and advised once they had been entered. Then, from our side, we confirmed the entered values and began the 48-hour waiting period, so that the proxy server and client server could communicate effectively and securely. During that time, the client was also able to provide HTTPS certificates for all 3 projects.

With the waiting period finalized and the certificates connected, everything was in place to give the client the new translated URLs for their site. However, after doing a final review, we noticed that the JS Error Code was still in English and an additional styling error appeared (due to the expansion of the translated text). We were able to use our proxy provider’s development editor to use CSS to fix the layout issue with only a couple lines of code. We were able to select the needed text with JS coding, and then update the text to reflect the translation. Within seconds, we were able to see the update on the client’s translated site.

Finally, we were able to provide the client with the completed translated URLs. After some communication with their IT provider to help set up the toggle between the source and translated sites, our project was complete.

Thanks to all teams involved, the responsiveness of our linguist, and our partnership with our proxy provider, Easyling, we were able to tackle a number of unexpected issues, leaving us better prepared for future proxy translations.

Reliable Controls: Website Translation

INDUSTRY: ENGINEERING

Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, Reliable Controls Corporation helps heavy industry, especially mining conglomerates, with plant commissioning, automation, optimization and sustainability. Because the company works extensively in Chile, Peru, and other Latin American countries, Reliable Controls chose to offer their website in Spanish as well as English.

Reliable Controls contacted US Translation Company to benefit from our website translation and proxy server technology. The proxy hosting allowed the company to bypass any significant IT support. Reliable Controls, after all, did not maintain web developers, nor did they want to hire any. Because the proxy server acts as intermediary between the website and the hosting server, it eliminates the need for complex software implementation on the client end.

Additionally, Reliable Controls needed their site to be search-optimized for Spanish-language Google searches. Fortunately, the US Translation Company website translation software extracts all metadata for easy translation (formerly, if the metadata were to be translated at all, the client would be forced to laboriously extract and replace each individual snippet).

As a value-added touch, Reliable Controls requested a custom button for selecting between English and Spanish versions of their site. Though US Translation Company does not explicitly offer web development services per se, we created a button to the client’s exact specifications, eliminating the need for Reliable Controls to seek out a developer for such a miniscule request.

In the end, Reliable Controls had a bilingual English / Spanish website, proxy hosted by US Translation Company, with SEO best practices and SEO metadata pre-loaded. The entire process occurred with only minimum effort on the part of Reliable Controls.

From Reliable Controls CEO Ed Macha

Ed Macha, CEO of Reliable Controls, said that “In order to maintain an edge in a global economy, communication is key. We rely on US Translation to provide technical, localized language solutions to meet our clients’ needs. We are extremely satisfied with the results and would recommend them to anyone doing business in international markets.”

Ultradent: Dental Translation

INDUSTRY: DENTAL SUPPLY MANUFACTURING

Ultradent manufactures dental products in its Utah factory. Established in 1979, the company first produced a hemostatic dental solution, and then went on to develop more than 500 innovative products and procedures for the dental industry. In addition, Ultradent also manufactures syringe packaging and molded plastic products for other companies. Ultradent’s worldwide success is credited, in part, to its best-in-industry products and procedures manuals which include professional, step-by-step instructions. Who does Ultradent turn to for best-in-industry technical translation service? U.S. Translation Company.

The dental translation project

To remain at the top of global competition, Ultradent regularly turns around dental translation projects within two weeks. Typically, these consist of products and procedures manuals and similar texts. With multiple documents translated into many languages per project, the result often makes up to 100 discrete translated files. Strict standards and demanding timelines add an element of challenge to Ultradent’s dental translation requirements. With intelligent project management, excellent translators, and efficient translation technology solutions, US Translation Company relieves Ultradent of translation undertakings so it can focus on its mission: succeeding in the international dental equipment marketplace.

Various Ultradent projects involve any of nineteen different languages, many of which serve to satisfy CE requirements for import and sale within the European Union. Languages include Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Thai, and Turkish. Most large dental translation projects are due within one to two weeks; smaller projects are due within 2-4 days.

The Challenge

To enter foreign markets, Ultradent relied on foreign distributors to not only sell products but to translate accompanying written materials. In this way, Ultradent hoped to control costs and produce high-quality translations. However, the opposite occurred. Ultradent’s US-based team spent precious time managing translators, timelines, and quality, all while achieving unsatisfactory results.

For example, because distributors divided time between selling and translating, they often took up to 44 weeks to translate, quality check and approve a single manual for print. With manuals tied up in translation, import approval processes halted and sales stopped. Ultradent needed a much more streamlined localization process.

The U.S. Translation Company Solution

U.S. Translation Company matched full-time translators with dental equipment manufacturing experience to Ultradent’s manuals. Linguists translated manuals accurately and efficiently. U.S. Translation Company provided additional quality measures by:
• Recording and implementing consistent translations of key terminology with translation memory software
• Performing detailed quality assurance reviews of each manual
• Reviewing dental translation outcomes with Ultradent staff

U.S. Translation Company deployed teams of up to 19 linguists simultaneously. Without compromising quality or deadlines, we managed translators, corrections, and revisions.

The dental translation Result

With reliable translations in hand, Ultradent distributors returned to selling. Ultradent’s US team returned to managing top quality products. U.S. Translation Company’s EN 15038 certification allowed products to enter Eurozone markets quickly. With such a high quality and reliable dental translation service, Ultradent continues to roll out products in new markets with great success.

JBT AeroTech: AutoCAD Translation

INDUSTRY: EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURING

JBT AeroTech is a global giant in the development and production of machinery and equipment. Their products range from energy, to food production, to airport equipment. Because JBT sells its equipment internationally, local and international regulations require the company to provide operation, maintenance and safety manuals of all products in the native languages of its clients. U.S. Translation Company is proud to have been the preferred provider of JBT’s localization and technical translation services for over 10 years!

The AutoCAD translation project

Needing an AutoCAD translation for their aerospace equipment schematics, JBT Aerotech contacted U.S. Translation Company.  This technical translation project proved challenging. Naturally, U.S. Translation Company rose to the occasion.

JBT provided AutoCAD drawings in English for translation into Spanish and Russian. They needed the AutoCAD translation to be delivered in AutoCAD version 14. To make matters even more demanding, JBT Aerotech needed the project finished within an extremely tight deadline. To meet the accelerated timeline, U.S. Translation Company sourced translators familiar with AutoCAD. Once assigned the CAD-fluent translators performed the AutoCAD translation directly inside of the program, eliminating extra steps.

The U.S. Translation Company project manager ran into considerable difficulty finding translators who met the requirement. Not only did the translators need to be fluent in English and Spanish or Russian; they needed to have aerospace subject matter expertise. Even more daunting, the project required translators who had a working knowledge of AutoCAD. And an up-to-date AutoCAD license and installation. Our AutoCAD translation project manager was unable to find translators who met all four requirements in the necessary timeframe. One Russian translator, for example, knew his way around AutoCad; however, his older version of AutoCad would not down-save to version 14.

The translation Solution

We made an end-run around this problem by sending the file to the client in Word for them to do desktop publishing quickly. For future AutoCAD translation into Russian, we decided to perform AutoCAD translation in Word and to subsequently do desktop publishing in-house for adaptation into AutoCAD. This solution allows the client to schedule timing of projects and receive documents in the desired format. JBT Aerotech was very happy with this solution and with our ability to work with their unique project specifications.

A complication arises with the project

During the AutoCAD translation and desktop publishing process, we learned that our English to Spanish translator had a medical emergency. To tend to personal needs, they needed to send the files over the upcoming weekend. Unfortunately, the U.S. Translation Company project manager had a prior scheduled vacation and had expected the project to complete on Friday.

Adjusting quickly, the AutoCAD translation project manager arranged for the translator to send the files to her over the weekend. She diverted from her itinerary, stopped at a remote location, and managed the transfer of the files through our Internet FTP portal. JBT Aerotech received the AutoCAD translation by the deadline, which was the following Monday.

The AutoCAD translation result

JB Aerotech met their deadline. U.S. Translation Company was overjoyed to uphold our commitment to white glove service. Everyone was happy in the end.

Heavy Equipment Manufacturer

INDUSTRY: EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURING

A multinational heavy equipment manufacturer hired U.S. Translation Company to provide interpretation and interpretation equipmentfor a series of English-to-Spanish trainings. The manufacturer’s strategic plan emphasized a large expansion into Latin America, particularly into Mexico and Brazil. To that end, their event focused on helping Spanish-speaking execs in sales, marketing, and localization to learn the following:

• the heavy equipment industry and its terminology, including the mining, construction, and agricultural sectors
• updated product designs, localized to the preferences of their target markets, and how to sell these effectively
• the economic dynamics affecting market conditions for their industry in their target countries
• industry trends and movements of their competitors
• long-term company strategic plan for increasing Latin American market share
• sales projections and KPIs for various team players

Interpretation for the equipment manufacturer.

U.S. Translation Company’s project manager provided all necessary interpretation equipment, as well as English-Spanish interpreters with technical backgrounds in equipment manufacturing and mining sectors. Also, a technician to manage interpretation equipment during the event. The client was very satisfied with the quality of service. Representatives of the equipment manufacturer reported that the interpretation occurred seamlessly. They had expected some hassle. Instead of needing to help oversee the interpreters and equipment, however, they marveled at the level of competency that the U.S. Translation Company project manager brought to the educational event series. Equipment, interpreters, and equipment technician functioned efficiently as a single package.

In addition to working with this equipment manufacturer, U.S. Translation Company has a twenty-one-year history of serving the equipment manufacturing industry. Over that time, we have served equipment manufacturers of various types. Depending on the needs of an equipment manufacturer, U.S. Translation Company has provided technical translation services and fulfilled localization requests. And, as in this case, we have facilitated multilingual interpretation for a variety of corporate events and functions.

Pharmaceutical Manufacturer

INDUSTRY: LIFE SCIENCES & HEALTHCARE

A major pharmaceutical company operated an international online forum for cancer patients. The website provided a real-time nexus via which patients could research medications, share experiences, discuss symptoms, and more. Because of the international and multilingual demographic, the company needed to translate much of the content. They approached U.S. Translation Company for assistance in localizing the website. With our expertise in pharmaceutical translation and website localization, U.S. Translation Company proved to be the right choice.

The pharmaceutical translation Challenge

The client’s past system of content translation for the cancer forum had proven cumbersome and inefficient. Not to mention error-prone. Essentially, they had hired translators to translate portions of the website content, and had then cut and paste the translated content into a duplicate version of the site to make a translated website. And, for twelve languages, they’d had to do this twelve times. Languages included French, German, Japanese, and Chinese.

The translation

After a needs audit, U.S. Translation Company determined that the most accurate and efficient system would be for our translators to log directly into the client’s content management system (CMS) to perform the pharmaceutical translation (U.S. Translation Company’s website translation and proxy hosting solution was not yet in existence). After U.S. Translation Company presented our plan, the pharma company agreed to allow our translators access to their content management system (CMS). Armed with detailed instructions regarding which modules to translate into which languages, our translators (all of whom had pharmaceutical backgrounds) each translated the content into her respective language. After the translators had done their part, qualified proofreaders checked their work.

The end Result of the pharmaceutical translation

Our pharma client cut its translation error rate by 60% and doubled translation efficiency. Website users who spoke 12 foreign languages had access to an error-free translated website forum. The successful pharmaceutical translation increased our customer’s visibility to their target market demographic and increased their market share.

Medical Devices Manufacturer

INDUSTRY: LIFE SCIENCES & HEALTHCARE

The medical device translation project

A major medical device manufacturer contracted U.S. Translation Company for assistance in localizing instructions for use (IFU) for a number of their products. IFUs for catheters, valves, endoscopic tools and a variety of other devices needed to be translated.  With a team of medical device experts fluent in both English and the respective target languages, U.S. Translation Company jumped into action to tackle what was perhaps our largest medical device translation project to date.

The prolific medical device manufacturer

Did we mention that this medical device manufacturer produced a variety of products? We’re talking everything from syringes to stents. Transducers to trays. Infusion systems to inflation devices. Complex medical devices. Basic healthcare products. You get the idea. More to the point, they needed their instructions for use translated into a dozen languages. Target languages included French, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Hungarian, Polish, Turkish, German and Japanese.

Project managers jump into action

U.S. Translation Company project managers immediately scoured our database (which contains over two thousand highly vetted linguists) to find those translators with a background in medical devices (developing, testing, manufacturing, designing or using them), and who specialized in the right target language English pair. Soon — no big surprise — they had the perfect translators and proofreaders assigned. As the linguists worked on the project, U.S. Translation Company project managers monitored their progress, communicating with the manufacturing client, as well as with the translators and proofreaders to clear up any misunderstandings. Post translation, post proofreading, the U.S. Translation Company quality assurance and desktop publishing team added the final touches.

Another translation job well done

U.S. Translation Company completed all medical device translation tasks for every product line and did so ahead of schedule. The client, a bit incredulous at the quality and speed, thanked us profusely. In fact, they had high praise for the quality of the final translated product and referred us to some of their industry acquaintances.

Boart Longyear

Boart Longyear, a leading provider of drilling and other resource extraction equipment, needed expedited technical translations for their client in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Their client needed work permit applications translated from English to French; these applications included medical records, credentials, work histories, educational certificates and other types of employee history.

U.S. Translation Company completed the project “in advance of schedule and…very professionally.” According to a Boart Longyear project manager, the work “exceeded our expectations in speed and quality…that led to an expedited permit and a happy client.”

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Pharmaceutical Interpretation

INDUSTRY: LIFE SCIENCES & HEALTHCARE

U.S. Translation Company provides pharmaceutical interpretation in multiple training locations for a well-known multinational pharma firm.

A multinational pharmaceutical conglomerate contracted U.S. Translation Company to provide pharmaceutical interpretation services for various training sessions around the globe. Working within a short timeframe, U.S. Translation Company project managers orchestrated simultaneous interpreters and interpretation equipment for such scattered locations as Japan, China, Prague, and Rome.

Pharmaceutical interpretation ready?

The U.S. Translation Company project managers for a subset of said pharmaceutical interpretation events breathed a sigh of relief. They had orchestrated interpreters, interpretation equipment, and equipment technicians for each event. Pending the uneventful completion of the various pharma trainings, they believed, their headaches were over. How very wrong they were. In fact, unbeknownst to these hapless PMs, events were conspiring to test them. More, in fact, than they had hitherto been tested by any pharmaceutical interpretation project.

Clouds on the event horizon

Just before the Rome event was to begin, the pharma client changed the scope of work to include Russian. With no time (nor budget) to fly Russian interpreters from the US to Rome, U.S. Translation Company project managers scrambled to source them in Europe in the eleventh hour. To get a sense of their task, consider the following factors:

• the interpreters needed to be fluent in Russian and English (obviously — hold on, we’re getting to the challenging part)
• they all needed to have pharmaceutical industry backgrounds
• interpreters needed to have experience providing pharmaceutical interpretation for training and educational events
• and (the most challenging aspect of all), the interpreters needed to be available at extremely short notice

Now, what are the chances of our project managers sourcing interpreters that line up with all four of these criteria? Granted, Europe has a lot of people, but how many of them are bilingual (Russian-English) pharmaceutical interpreters with educational experience and free time on their hands?

Sweet, sweet pharmaceutical interpretation success

As it happened, however, our PMs — in a feat worthy of a James Bond film — dug up interpreters with just such qualities and activated them. In time for the event. In the end, each training, including the one in Rome, had seamless pharmaceutical interpretation that met and exceeded the client’s quality expectations and also accommodated change orders such as the one heretofore mentioned. Our project managers delivered every stage of the project — and the project as a whole — on schedule and within budget. Which we like to do (see Kathy Sprouse’s article, “Making the Clients Happy“).

Aerospace Manufacturer

INDUSTRY: EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURING

Japanese interpretation for aircraft training.

A major aircraft manufacturer needed to train its Japanese division in the operation, maintenance, and repair of a new jetliner. U.S. Translation Company provided dedicated aerospace interpretation experts for the duration of the training process. The project lasted six months. In addition to aerospace interpretation, U.S. Translation Company translated key technical materials for our client.

Aerospace interpretation requirements

U.S. Translation Company provided a dedicated team of on-site English-to-Japanese simultaneous interpreters. Aerospace interpretation requires a specific interpretation subset of skills. Naturally, fluency in two languages — English and Japanese, in this case — is a core criterion. Beyond that, the interpreter needs a certain fluency in the language of aerospace. Because the aerospace industry has its own technical vocabulary, our interpreters needed to have had a professional background in the industry. From the extensive U.S. Translation Company network of interpreters, we sourced those aerospace interpretation experts that met our rigorous set of requirements.

Training Japanese aerospace personnel

Our aerospace interpretation team worked forty-hour weeks interpreting the English training modules for our client’s Japanese employees. Cohort after cohort of Japanese pilots, technicians, and other airline personnel attended and completed the certification process. For half a year, our linguists lived in the host city where the training occurred.

Interpretation complete

After six months of intense interpretation (and some translation), the aerospace manufacturer’s Japanese division was fully trained in the maintenance, repair, and operation of the new aircraft. A thrilled client praised U.S. Translation Company’s white glove service, rapid deployment, technical accuracy, and rigorous project management. Because our project managers controlled every aspect of the interpretation and translation process, we delivered our services exactly on time and within budget. Essentially, our client was able to forget that the interpretation was even occurring — instead, they focused on other parts of their training process that actually needed their attention!

Kyäni: Event Interpretation

GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND TO SAVE AN INTERPRETATION CLIENT $$

Kyäni is a direct marketing company that produces its own proprietary superfood blends and health products. Known for its large conferences and events, Kyani frequently relies on U.S. Translation Company to provide equipment and interpreters in many languages. Rebecca Batt, Kyani’s Global Event Manager, had the following to say about U.S. Translation Company’s services:

“U.S. Translation Company goes above and beyond providing interpreters and interpretation equipment for Kyani events. They manage every aspect of the interpretation process for us, including advising us on ways to make our process more efficient. For example, we used to rent headsets from them. Giovanna, our U.S. Translation Company project manager, recommended that we save money by buying our own headsets, based on our frequency of use. She even connected us to her supplier and got us a great deal.

Two years ago, Kyani conventions were drawing about a thousand people. Now, in 2016. we typically have four to five thousand attendees. U.S. Translation Company has had no problem scaling to meet our growing demand. Recently, Giovanna managed interpretation for a large event in Orlando. She showed up with interpreters for six languages, as well as booths (both tabletop and freestanding). She coordinated the entire process and pulled it off without a hitch. U.S. Translation Company is definitely Kyani’s go-to for conference interpretation; we already have them booked for several upcoming events!”

Total Life Changes: Remote Interpretation

INDUSTRY: English-Spanish remote interpretation network marketing company

Headquartered in Fairhaven, Michigan, Total Life Changes (TLC) is a network marketing company that works to help provide quality products ranging from weight loss supplements to skin care products. TLC is currently expanding to other areas of the world. They are offering multiple meetings around the continental United States as well as outside the United States to their distributors for training and introducing new product lines. Due to having many meetings they are looking for a way to offer interpretation services to their distributors that need them but also save money when doing so.

TLC discussed these needs with US Translation Company (USTC) and USTC was able to offer them our remote interpretation service. This service allows the interpreters to work remotely from their home anywhere in the world. It allows the audience onsite to hear the interpretation on their individual receivers and headsets that USTC provides the attendees, of the meeting as if the interpreters were on site at the actual meeting or conference. This allows TLC to save money for their smaller events on flying in interpreters, costs of hotel, costs of food, and other associated travel expenses.

In order to make sure that all runs smoothly USTC provided an onsite technician to manage the interpreters working from home and to ensure that the equipment onsite was working properly so that the experience that TLC attendees had was a positive one. USTC also provided an onsite Project Manager for the first meeting in the United States to make sure all went well and the client was happy with the service.

From Total Life Changes Event Director

“I think we can definitely work with you. Everything went great no issues.”
Martha Avila- Director of Events

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