Unlocking Efficiency: The Power of Translation Memory Software in Multilingual Projects

What is Translation Memory Software?

With a valuation of over $40 million in 2022, it’s clear that corporations and businesses place heavy value on the accessibility and utility of their content and products—and they’re always looking for ways to stay on top of the industry while saving valuable time and resources. 

Translation memory software is a key part of this strategy, empowering execs and stakeholders to work through translation projects in a more efficient and sustainable way. It acts as a repository for all previously translated content, meaning that you only pay for any translated text once. Your translation memory system will take it from there, holding it in a tank in your current translation management system for later use. This is less like a glossary, and is more personalized in nature—focusing on go-to phrases and brand-specific copy that can be easily referenced quickly. 

Over time, this library of translated text will be incredibly extensive, saving you time and cost as you put assets through the translation process. 

Read on to learn more about this impressive piece to consider in your translation technology strategy. We’ll also be covering benefits and considerations to help you determine if this is a fit for your current content management systems. 

Image Source

The Benefits of Using Translation Memory Software

The benefits of using translation memory software extend beyond accurately translated content. Businesses can also enjoy: 

• Improving consistency and accuracy in translations: With a pre-built repository, you’re guaranteed a consistent and accurate presentation of your translated text. 

• Reducing translation time and costs: Beyond the obvious benefit of strategically managed resources, memory software streamlines the time it takes to produce multilingual content from a project management side. This is a huge perk, especially if your team is working to directly translate content into different languages in tandem. 

• Facilitating team collaboration: Professional translators can work efficiently with teams to build the expository, smoothing the workflow and encouraging direct collaboration in the process. 

How Translation Memory Software Works

Every translation memory software works a little differently. However, it’s generally a large-scale “matching game” between the source text (yet to be translated) and the final, translated product—which can be done via human translators, machine translation or computer-assisted translation. 

Translation memory software is especially helpful for companies who are hoping to reuse translated content and information for future marketing campaigns on a global scale, or for businesses in certain industries (such as publishing) that are releasing siloed content and need high-quality translations. 

No matter what use case it’s associated with, translation memory software speeds the localization process and supports team members as they reach a higher level of quality assurance, backed by previous translations deemed correct and localized by translation providers. In short? It’s done-for-you translation automation that you shouldn’t be quick to overlook! 

Challenges in Implementing Translation Memory Software

As with any API or proprietary software, there can be challenges with integrations across industries. Understanding these concerns or possible obstacles ahead of time helps you to have a more comprehensive and risk-managed integration path (and a higher level of efficiency overall!) 

Our team has done the heavy lifting for you, however, putting together a shortlist of strategies and best practices to consider when working with translation memory software. 

Here are a few things to keep in mind as you start your implementation process:

• Do routine “quality check” searches: Many translation memory software options allow for simple searches, which can be used to quality- and spot-check terms and phrases for later use. Check your library regularly to determine if any manual adds or edits need to happen, and avoid snafus later on. 

• Use a high-quality base translation: Translation memory tools offer value—which can be compounded when the first version of a translation in a target language is an exact match with a given source text. It’s worth the investment to work with skilled translation agencies (despite possible translation costs) to create the most accurate translation memory database possible. 

• Consider user experience before you sign on the dotted line: UX issues are a major contributor to low compliance with tools — and a termbase is no different. Fully explore your tool and collaborate with the team to make sure it’s a fit for everyone involved. 

Integrating Translation Memory in Your Translation Management System

Translation memory works in a flexible, adaptable way. You can generally determine how you wish to organize a new translation, you can quality check at any time, and you can use the terminology management tools across content types. 

You already know you need it, and how you’ll manage it once it gets rolling—but how do you actually pick the tool? 

Here’s what you should look for before integrating a real-time translation management tool across your departments: 

• Pricing: You’ll want to choose an option that’s sustainable, both now and in the future. While it will generate cost savings over time, you have to make sure that the entire package is a fit—checking for hidden fees that could be associated with certain file formats, tasks, or other areas of functionality. 

• Accessibility: Check to see if your tool is cloud-based. While most are, some might not be—which can cause major compatibility issues later on. 

• Size: Storage can fill quickly when you include the source language and language pairs in your management tool, so be sure that there’s enough room for everything! 

Image Source

Integrate Translation Memory in Your Translation Management System with OneSky

Translation memory tools pave the way for proactive translation retention and sustainable, replicable growth. When you choose to invest the time and cost into integrating with a termbase or tool suite, you’ll have the peace of mind in knowing that you’re truly only paying for what you get from your translators—and you won’t have to waste your valuable resources translating repeated terms or filler words ever again. 

That sounds like a great trade-off to us! 

That’s why we’ve incorporated smart save tech into the OneSky translation management platform—leveraging the raw power that translation memory can offer to power efficient and accurate translations, every time. 

Ready to try it for yourself? Connect with us today to get started for FREE. We’re here to help!