The trucking industry is notorious for being slow to adopt the latest in technology developments. However, for those who are not afraid of being early adopters, the rewards of adopting new technology can be tremendous.

If you were to walk into any trucking business office and look around, in addition to a computer you will see the following items in plain view: a fax machine, file cabinets (usually several) and most likely a white board. To the average visitor, these items may be simply accepted as “tools of the trade.” The necessary business tools to get the job done. The same opinion may be held by most transportation professionals, “those are the same items in my office, why should theirs be any different.” The reason why it should be different is because each of those items has been converted in the digital age to some other electronic tool, and continuing to use the old tools fosters inefficiency.

Fax machines have been replaced with e-mails and document imaging. A dedicated fax line costs $35/mo, plus the long distance which can easily be another $35/mo, for a total of $70/mo or $840/yr. Document imaging is included on most late model fax machines that double as printers, but can also be purchased with a scanner for $300 or less. E-mail is free, and an online fax accounts are $15/mo (or less) with free long distance. Even if you had to purchase a scanner, converting to e-mails and document imaging would save $360 the first year, and $660 each year after that. This doesn’t even factor in the savings of paper not used.

What about the file cabinets? Well, if document imaging was implemented as described before, the use of file cabinets would drop by 90%. Driver DOT files can be scanned, as can signed Bills of Lading. So not only can one reduce the number of file cabinets being used, but the amount of floor space occupied by file cabinets is also reduced. These are nominal savings at best, but the major savings comes in how much time it takes to file something, or look for it in those cabinets. Once documents are digitized, they are much easier to store and locate on computers. What may take 3 minutes to find in the file cabinet would take 30 seconds or less on a computer. That’s a six-fold labor reduction for a task that gets done 20 times a day or more. The efficiency gain for document imaging is more than 25% of the administrative time required for clerical duties. That’s $2000-$4000 annually per employee.

How about that white board. Think that can’t be replaced? Wrong! Trucking software with dispatching features can replace that white board in a heartbeat. Not only does it have dispatch management tools, most trucking software packages come with much more to manage the rest of the business. Trucking specific features such as driver specific pay types and settlements, IFTA reporting, equipment management, and more. Some even come with document imaging built in so scanned images can be stored within the software for easy access. White boards are good fro tracking work that day or week, but try looking up jobs done months ago on that white board. Try running a profitability report for the last quarter on that white board to find out which driver or truck or customer was most profitable. That type of information could be worth tens of thousands when it impacts the decision making for the business. There may be a customer taking up 10% of your resources and only contributing 2% to the overall bottom line. Eliminating a customer like that can improve net profits by 10% or more. Who wouldn’t want a 10% raise this year?

In summary, trucking software and other technologies can not only replace older tools, they can increase efficiencies saving money by the thousands. Even though you may have never used these digital tools, and it feels strange to start using them, take the leap of faith. There are better tools being developed every day to help you save money, so take advantage of them and be an early adopter of new technology!

Masslogics provides web-based trucking software to small and medium sized trucking companies. Using features like Document Imaging, IFTA reporting, and now Mobile Dispatch, the cell phone interface for drivers, Masslogics makes enterprise level trucking software affordable for any trucking company.

All of us have heard or read terms like translation agency, translation company, localization agency and language service provider (LSP). Many people new to translation and localization are sometimes confused by the jargon. This article will help clear up the confusion with the often interchangeable terms “translation” and “localization” as well as other terminology associated with the translation industry. Although translation and localization have distinct meanings, the term localization has gained popularity and is sometimes used in place of translation.

Translation Agency, Localization Company or Language Services Provider?

Technically, all of the terms in the heading above could be describing the same organization. Language Services Provider (LSP) has become increasingly popular in conference presentations, because the term is more general and describes a full service organization that may do more than just translation. In terms of common usage, translation agency is an older, more traditional term, whereas Language Service Provider (LSP) is a more current, commonly used term for a company or partner that provides a broad range of translation or linguistic services.

Common Translation Industry Terminology

Translation Agency: A translation agency provides translation services. This term is often used interchangeably with translation company or localization agency. A translation agency provides translation services and manages translation projects for clients. Some translation agencies may also provide interpreters, multilingual desktop publishing (DTP) and other language related services such as website translation and software translation. (Also referred to as a Localization Agency, Language Service Provider, Globalization Services Provider)

Translation: The act rendering the meaning of one language into another. Stated another way, translation is communication of the meaning of a source-language text by means of an equivalent target-language text. Translation is performed by a translator or translation team.

Copy writing or transcreation: While transcreators strive to actually copy write into a target language, the primary responsibility of a translator is to accurately translate the source content into a target language. In order to stay true to the source content, this can result in translations that are more literal. Multilingual projects that involve marketing or persuasive text may frequently require true copywriting or what is known as “transcreation”. In many cases translated text must be then rewritten to make the message persuasive, as well as accurate and culturally appropriate. In some cases, a target language locale may be so different that a complete rewrite of source marketing text is required.

Localization (L10n): The Localization Industry Standards Association (LISA) defines localization as follows: “Localization involves taking a product and making it linguistically and culturally appropriate to the target locale (country/region and language) where it will be used and sold.” Localization must take the locale into consideration, for instance Brazil for Portuguese vs. Portugal.

Internationalization (I18n): Internationalization is a process which generalizes a software product (or website) so that redesign will not be necessary to enable it to handle multiple languages and cultural conventions. Internationalization takes place at the beginning of the program design and documentation development process. Separation of text from software source code is a critical aspect of internationalization. Moving translatable text, (the text that is visible to the user), into separate resource files prevents translators from changing or breaking the program code.

Globalization (G11n): The Localization Industry Standards Association (LISA) defines globalization as: “Globalization addresses the business issues associated with taking a product global. In the globalization of high-tech products this involves integrating localization throughout a company, after proper internationalization and product design, as well as marketing, sales and support in the world market.” Globalization involves both internationalization and localization. The concept of globalization is frequently used in a sales or marketing concept, defining when a company moves beyond home/domestic markets and globalizes websites for eCommerce to pursue consumers and sales in targeted locales.

Website Translation:Website translation is also known as “Website Globalization”. In order to truly “translate” a website into other languages you may need both Internationalization (I18n) and Localization (L10n) services.

Internationalization (I18n) + Localization (L10n) = Website Globalization.

Internationalization (I18n) involves enabling the backend or the content management system (CMS) of a website to handle different languages, character sets, currencies, submit form data, site search capabilities, etc… and involves understanding what database and content management systems you are using to author, store and publish your website’s content. Many recent versions of databases and content management solutions (CMS) are already enabled for other languages. Localization (L10n) involves translating and localizing the front-end and the user interface of your website into different languages ensuring all content (text, scripts and web graphics) is translated in an accurate and culturally correct manner.

Software Translation: Software translation is also known as “Software Globalization”. In order to truly “translate” software into other languages you may need both Internationalization (I18n) and Localization (L10n) services.

Internationalization (I18n) + Localization (L10n) = Software Globalization.

Internationalization (I18n) involves enabling the code base of an application to support different languages, character sets, time, date and numerical formats, etc… and involves understanding your application’s development platform and process. Localization (L10n) involves translating and localizing your software’s User Interface (display, menus, dialog boxes, error messages), Online Help and User Manuals into different languages ensuring all content (text and graphics) is translated in an accurate and culturally correct manner.

Locale: a locale includes the language of the region as well as numerous other issues, such as character set support, date/time formatting, forms of payment, data/product sorting, phone/address formatting and more. Locales are associated with target languages; for instance Brazil and Portugal are locales associated with the Portuguese language.

Translation Memory: Translation memory (TM) technology allows translation teams to store and reuse both source and target language content for any translation project. GPI’s translation teams utilize translation memory tools in order to create and maintain multilingual glossaries and translation memories for our clients. These glossaries and memories are the proprietary property of our clients and can be provided to you as part of any project’s deliverables. Tool use is client-driven and GPI can work with all of the commercially available TM technologies.

Translation memory is not machine translation (MT). The benefits of translation memory include:

1. Consistency in translations on larger projects, where teams of translators are required.
2. Productivity and accuracy improvements.
3. Reduced costs of translations by offering leveraged pricing on repeat and fuzzy match text.
4. Revision projects can be handled in the most cost-effective, time-efficient manner.

Machine Translation: Machine translation (MT) is software that produces very raw, draft translations automatically. Machine translation software requires extensive upfront glossary development, strict adherence to controlled source language authoring and qualified translators to post-edit the raw translations that are produced in order to achieve acceptable quality. I utilizes human translation and editing teams who work with translation memory tools, NOT machine translation.

GILT: An acronym for “Globalization, Internationalization, Localization and Translation”. This term is sometimes used to describe professional societies and association in our industry.

CJKV: An acronym sometimes used to describe a combination of Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Vietnamese.

FIGS: A common acronym for French, Italian, German and Spanish, four of the more common western European target languages for English source materials.

BRIC: A newer acronym for Brazil, Russia, India and China. These countries make up 4 of the fastest growing global economies. Brazilian Portuguese, Russian, Chinese and some Indian dialects are becoming increasingly popular as target languages for content translation, localization and website globalization.

Useful Translation Industry Resources

There are a number of organizations and websites that provide useful materials and periodic updates through blogs and articles. The following is a list that I recommend:

* Multilingual Computing MultiLingual is the leading industry magazine for Web site globalization, international software development and language technology.
* Common Sense AdvisoryThis firm focuses on assisting clients to operationalize, benchmark, optimize, and innovate industry best practices in translation, localization, interpreting, globalization, and internationalization.
* GALA (Globalization and Localization Association) The Globalization and Localization Association (GALA) is an international nonprofit association whose member companies specialize in language services, translation services and language technology.
* Byte Level Research Since 2000, Byte Level Research has been dedicated to the art and science of web globalization.
* ClientSide News CSN is a client-focused organization that leverages intelligence to drive Globalization, Internationalization, Localization and Translation (GILT) industry solutions.

In different areas and industries, companies have long depended on translation services in ensuring smooth and fluent communications. Organizations with a global perspective also rely on the services offered by translation providers when it comes to translating product descriptions and manuals, glossaries, legal records, and other important documents.

Translation agencies normally work with translators and language experts who specialize in a specific field to address the needs of their clients in the technical, legal, and financial industries. Armed with specific knowledge in their industry and a profound understanding of their designated languages, these professionals are able to translate a wide range of texts accurately.

Companies that provide translation services currently experience a growing demand for the translation of texts from the medical and healthcare industry. Some of the services that agencies provide include client-specific translations for scientific journal articles, clinical trials, and drug registration documentation. Some companies even offer free, HIPAA-compliant development and maintenance of TMs (Translation Memories) and glossaries.

Another field that greatly benefits from the multilingual support that translation companies provide is the legal industry. Due to the sensitive nature of many court cases, it is imperative that law firms seek the assistance of only the most established, federal court-certified legal translators and interpreters. Only these individuals are qualified to produce accurate translations of legal hearings, drafts, and summaries, and provide services such as in-person legal interpretations for discovery, trials, and depositions.

The Internet and technology sectors also find much value in translation services. New applications, software, and manuals need to be localized to ensure that they are available in the target country’s language and are able to take cultural nuances into account. This way, clients can be sure that their highly technical documents and materials such as help files, websites, software components, manuals, and resource files can be accurately translated according to their specific needs.

Aside from these three major industries, translation services also play a great role in fields such as finance, insurance, chemistry, human resources, engineering, and education. Regardless of the industry that translation companies cater to, it is important to seek the services of those with translators and interpreters who have native fluency in the target language and expertise in the industry they specialize in. This way, clients are able to benefit from the highest level of combined language and industry experience, and use texts and materials that are guaranteed to possess the consistency, continuity, and accuracy of their message.