Today, you can hardly manage large-scale translations without machine assistance. While the computer does most of its work on its own, there are post-editing processes that need to be carried out by humans. In the ISO 18587 certification process, you learn to master these processes.
What you will learn here
- Definition and scope of the ISO 18587 standard
- Advantages for your work process
- Selling translation services more convincingly with certification
What is ISO 18587?
ISO 18587 defines the rules for the Post-processing of machine translations and specifies minimum requirements that must be met in order to demonstrate the conformity of the translation service provider (TSP) with the standard.
One reason for this standard is that the use of machine translation systems (MT) has become very popular with increasing computing power and thanks to artificial intelligence, and therefore the demand for MT post-editing services has increased. At the same time, the call for uniform quality standards has become louder. The ISO 18587 standard offers this standard.
You can reach us by telephone on +41 44 552 66 19 or send us an e-mail. E-mail to Mr Markus Kukla, Head of the certification body. We look forward to hearing from you!
There are several minimum requirements that a translation service provider must adhere to in order to fulfil the requirements of ISO 18587:2017. Your company must assess the quality of documents to be translated before submitting a quote, define resources for the service and much more.
The ISO 18578 certification process three areas analysed:
- The project preparation. Including the preparation of quotations, the evaluation of the enquiry and the provision of resources. What is important here is whether the documents submitted are suitable for machine translation at all. When it comes to translations of family documents and certificates for a Emigration for example, this is not the case.
- The production process. Here, the auditors look at the workflow and the qualifications of the employees in the various production stages. Quality assurance plays a major role.
- The project post-processing. When a project is completed, the follow-up work begins. This includes feedback from the customer and any improvements and maintenance of your own database.
What advantages does ISO 18587 certification offer a translation agency?
Improve productivity
When you receive enquiries for large translation projects, costs play a major role. You can minimise these with a high productivity under control. With a defined process, as described in ISO 18587, every project is treated equally. With the Certification learn, Standardise work processes and thus more cost-transparent to make. This allows you to machine translate large projects and utilise the optimum resources for post-editing. With ISO 18587 certification, you can make your cost structure transparent to customers.
Optimise post-processing
The process of post-editing machine translations still has to be done by humans. Only then can you achieve quality that meets international standards. The ISO 18587 certification process requires you to plan, document and optimise this process.
At the centre of this is the claim that every customer can expect the same processes for the post-processing of documents. For you as a translation service provider (TSP), this brings with it a considerable advantage: you will automatically improve your processes and thus optimise throughput times.
Competitive advantages through ISO 18587 certification
If your translation agency is certified for the post-editing of machine translations, then this is a clear Advantage over competitors. You can prove that you work according to international standards and are prepared to offer higher quality and greater effort in return. Such a globally valid certification sets you apart from other service providers. At the same time, it shows that you are prepared to take on the quality requirements, audits and costs associated with the certificate for your customers.
ISO 18587 certification also means that you deliver exceptionally high quality in post-editing translations. This gives you a selling point that other companies cannot offer.
Customers can trust your translation services
Decisions in favour of a service provider are often made on instinct. Trust and gut feeling play a major role, especially when offers are very close to each other. As you can demonstrate to your customers through the ISO 18587 certification that you follow an internationally established process and that all work steps are standardised, you create a basis of trust. Certifications create transparency and security - and ultimately a good feeling for your customer that they have made the right decision.
You can reach us by telephone on +41 44 552 66 19 or send us an e-mail. E-mail to Mr Markus Kukla, Head of the certification body. We look forward to hearing from you!
Convincing sales through ISO 18587 certification
If you receive requests for translation projects that are machine translated and then post-edited, ISO 18587 certification can help you in negotiations. The detailed report that accompanies an award allows you to visualise every step of the translation and post-editing process.
Your customers expect not only high quality, but also transparency during the translation process. Particularly in the case of translations that are initially based on software, there is still uncertainty on the customer side. You have to argue against free programmes such as DeepL. The certificate is objective proof of why your work is simply better due to the post-editing of translations produced by the computer.
The process shows the human resources involved in a computer translation, including editors, proofreaders and technical review. As this is standard practice for ISO 18587-certified companies, customers will gain a better understanding of costs. It also increases the certainty that you will deliver a reproducible quality.
Frequently asked questions
What will ISO 18587 certification cost?
The effort required for certification depends on the existing work processes and structures in your company. To find out the exact costs, we recommend contacting us directly at Mr Markus Kukla, the head of the LinquaCert certification body (link Mailto: mk@linquacert.com). We will be happy to provide you with a customised offer based on your requirements.
What are the ISO 18587 certification requirements for translation service providers (TSPs)?
In order to be certified according to ISO 1857, you must offer machine-generated translations and post-editing. If you have already established structures that largely fulfil the certification requirements, this will simplify the process.
Conclusion
ISO 18587 certification brings you several advantages. You can present yourself more confidently to customers, have objective proof of the quality you offer and can optimise your internal processes. For projects with machine translations, the quality management of the certification helps you to become more productive and offer customers an even better service.
The best thing to do today to create an offer, free of charge, of course. Our Mr Markus Kukla, head of the LinquaCert certification body, looks forward to your call (+41 44 552 66 19) or your e-mail to his personal mailbox mk@linquacert.com.