Translation by human Japanese translators

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Differences between a network of translators like us and a translation agency

When you compare a network of translators to a typical agency, the main differences are in how they are structured and how they work. It may be interesting to see how they differ.

Structure of a network of translators

A network of translators is usually more flexible and never works with layers of subcontractors. Translators belonging to a team or network are experiences professionals based in their home country. They have unique skills, decades of experience, and solid expertise.

In general, everyone works from home and often multitasks. There are no so-called headquarters or local offices, which allows to minimize overhead and maximize quality.

Structure of a translation agency

The structure of an agency tends to be more structured, with a lot of functions and layers of subcontractors. Their headquarters are fancy and there are multiple regional offices around the world. In cases of large companies, most of their in-house staff are not involved in translation.

As you can guess, the overhead expenses of a translation agency, especially a large one, are high. their continuous initiatives to implement automation and offshoring enable them to reduce costs to the minimum. Consequently, while profits are maximized, the quality is compromised.

For example, they hire young project managers who live in emerging countries such as India and Argentina. Similarly, they prefer to use inexperienced translators or translators whose native language is not the source or target languages.

Artfully crafted translation by human translators

When it comes to working, a network of translators like ours works independently, much like an artist in an atelier. Only a qualified translator will be allowed to translate into his/her native language exclusively. After that, a trusted colleague will be selected to review this artfully crafted translation.

In this way, what we make us unique is our commitment to delivering artfully crafted translations in this time and age. An experienced Japanese translator is less likely to rely on automated tools such as DeepL and Google Translate. Needless to say, ChatGAP and similar have no place in this way of working.

Artificially generated translation by agencies

A typical agency, on the other hand, operates in a similar manner to a factory. They heavily rely on automation and are proactively introducing AI into the process. By using AI tools and similar, they can generate translations from/into all the languages around the world.

This process involves multiple so-called translators, but they are usually inexperienced linguists working for a pittance. Translators or linguists are essentially disposable and replaceable for an agency. With the rare exception, no experienced Japanese translator is working for this type of translation agency.

Choose a translation service provider based on your purpose

Each type has its advantages and disadvantages and it does not matter which is superior. Rather, it is beneficial to have options, and choosing a service provider that aligns with your specific purpose is essential.

When you may need a network of translators

Thanks to the advancements in translation tools such as DeepL, Google Translate, and ChatGPT, language barriers are significantly lowered. While these tools are effective for most situations, you may still require a professional Japanese translator if:

Quality and accuracy are your utmost priority
Effective communication is crucial
Emotions, moods, and nuance should be carefully taken into account
Your translation is needed in formal circumstances

When you may need an agency

A typical agency offers a wide range of services that a network of translators cannot provide. Using their services is highly recommended if:

Quality and accuracy is not a priority
You need to translate a user manual into more than 20 languages at once
10,000 words document must be translated within 24 hours
You regularly require multilingual and high-volume translation services

It may not be a good analogy, but imagine you are going to bring a box of chocolates to a gathering. If the gathering is important and formal, it’s best to buy it from a fancy bakery. On the other hand, if it’s routine and informal, you’d purchase it from a nearby grocery store.