In today’s multilingual and multicultural economy, businesses often require a language service provider (LSP) to bridge their foreign language skills gap. According to the Association of Language Companies (ALC), globalization as well as immigration are contributing to the continued growth of the language services industries. “Effective communication helps any type of organization improve their customer/patient satisfaction, increases productivity of staff, builds loyalty and enhances their image in the communities they serve,” (ALC).

Whether you are entering a new market or lack in-house multilingual staff, selecting the right LSP for your organization involves several steps. It is crucial to work effectively with the chosen LSP, and this includes assessing their language proficiency. “Language may not be top of mind, but as companies manage their own organic growth as well as the impact of technology on the language category, leading organizations are changing how they manage their network of language service providers (LSPs),” (Aiello, Crehan).

Understanding Your Target Audience and Language Needs

To begin the process of finding a trusted LSP, it is vital to understand your target audience and the languages involved. Once you have determined the language services that you will need, such as translation, interpretation, or language training, you can narrow down potential LSPs with specialization in those areas. Conduct research by seeking LSP recommendations from colleagues or exploring online reviews. Their expertise and specialization in your industry or field is an important element to take into consideration, as well as the experience in domains like legal, medical, or technical translation since this can ensure accurate translations and use in appropriate contexts.

According to a survey conducted for ACTFL, midsize employers in the United States are more likely to rely on LSPs than their smaller and larger counterparts; and exporters tend to rely more on LSPs than non-exporters. Generally, LSPs are used to complement onsite multilingual staff.

Credentials

Other important factors to consider are the qualifications, certifications, and memberships of an LSP with organizations. These credentials demonstrate the company’s commitment to follow industry linguistic requirements and to the professional development of their bilingual and multilingual staff. It is essential to evaluate their technology infrastructure, translation management systems, and quality assurance programs to ensure they handle confidential information diligently.

Quality of Services

Assessing the quality of the services provided by an LSP can be done by asking for previous work to gauge effectiveness and review style; requesting a trial project to evaluate their work performance; or looking for references in the languages you need to verify client satisfaction with the final product.

Establishing Clear Communication

Maintaining effective communication and establishing well-ordered channels of collaboration are of utmost importance once you have selected an LSP. Discuss detailed pricing and clarify terms related to project timelines, revisions allotted, and confidentiality. Providing continuous feedback during and after projects can help the LSP understand your preferences and foster a long-term partnership that can offer better support to existing or potential customers.

Contact Language Testing International (LTI) today. LTI—the exclusive licensee of ACTFL and a leading language testing provider with three decades of providing valid and reliable language assessments—can provide you with a universally recognized language credential that confirms the speaking, reading, writing, and listening proficiency of your bilingual and multilingual employees in over 120 languages. Our remotely and securely proctored assessments can be taken at anytime, anywhere.

Sources:

American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) and the Lead with Languages Campaign commissioned Ipsos Public Affairs, with the support of Pearson LLC and Language Testing International. (2019). “Making Languages Our Business: Addressing Foreign Language Demand Among U.S. Employers.” https://www.actfl.org/uploads/files/general/MakingLanguagesOurBusiness_FullReport.pdf

Aiello Mark & Grehan, April M. “Smart Sourcing for Language Service Provider Selection. How life sciences companies are turning vendors into partners.” Lionbridge. January 13, 2022. https://www.lionbridge.com/blog/life-sciences/smart-sourcing-for-language-service-provider-selection/

Association of Language Companies. “The Language Service Industry.” https://www.alcus.org/page/languageserviceindustry

Madeline Martínez is a Multicultural Navigator Specialist at URBANDER, a Woman and Minority Business Enterprise (WMBE) specializing in transforming businesses to advance humanity. URBANDER’s role is to serve as an extension of Marketing, Diversity, Human Resources, Procurement, Community Relations, and Social Responsibility teams, providing innovative approaches in the areas of strategic marketing, content development, workforce development, community outreach and IDEAS (inclusion, diversity, equity, accessibility, and sustainability). Madeline holds a both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Communications from the University of Puerto Rico and is an experienced copywriter and content developer dedicated to amplifying the voices of URBANDER’s clients. From blogs and articles to social media posts and interviews, Madeline is a skilled writer across diverse topics integrating her marketing, business and academic acumen. Though her earlier work as a Publications Officer at the Inter American University in Puerto Rico, and her most recent performance as a Spanish Interpreter, Substitute Teacher, and Instructional Assistant for English-language learning elementary school students, Madeline has impacted countless families as they have navigated migrating to the U.S. from Spanish-speaking countries. As a bilingual professional, Madeline is also proficient in translating written documents from English to Spanish, and vice versa. She has received LTI issued ACTFL Language Proficiency Certificates in Spanish as follows: Advanced Writing, Advanced Listening, Advanced Reading and Superior Speaking. During her downtime, Madeline loves spending time with her family, and enjoys dancing, movies, photography, and coffee. She considers herself a continuous learner. “A well-educated mind will always have more questions than answers”- Helen Keller

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