We all strive for security. It is a basic human need. Security is essential when it comes to translations. But ISO standards don’t just provide security. There are several valid reasons why you should have certification as a translation service provider (ÜDL). The ISO 17100 costs are a good investment in the future of your company.
These are the main reasons for ISO 17100:2015 certification:
- Security
- Quality
- Transparency
- Trust
- Improved work process
An ISO 17100 certification brings security
Customers who need a translation cannot judge whether the result really matches the original. When choosing a translation service provider (ÜDL), they therefore look for providers who give them a certain level of security.
An ISO 17100 certification offers exactly this security. The certification states that work is carried out here according to internationally recognized standards. This reduces the risk for customers of investing in a poor-quality translation.
At the same time, the threshold that would otherwise prevent contact is lowered. A clearly visible certification on your website gives the impression that you can be trusted.
You can reach us by phone on +41 44 552 66 19 or send an email to Mr. Markus Kukla, head of the certification body. We look forward to hearing from you!
High quality of your services
The ISO standards for translation service providers (ÜDL) and their processes aim to ensure the highest possible quality. This has two advantages for you as a provider: you increase the quality of your products and you can use this quality as a selling point to customers.
If a client needs personal documents for emigration, then these documents must meet certain formal requirements. You need to know the rules of the country where clients are emigrating and what form of translation is required. Is a simple translation enough or does it have to be an officially confirmed translation? The ISO 17100 certification also prescribes, among other things, the corresponding processes for emigration translations and at the same time guarantees the quality of the translation process.
Stable processes have been proven to significantly reduce the chances of errors during the translation process. This becomes clear in the complaint rate: The complaint rate of companies certified by LinquaCert in the years 2017-2019 is on average 0.51% and speaks for satisfied customers.
Transparency towards your customers
There are many institutes in the world that award certifications according to their own specifications. This looks nice on a website, but customers have no idea what is actually behind it.
With an ISO 17100 certification, on the other hand, there are publicly accessible documents that describe in detail what the basics are and what requirements a translation service provider (ÜDL) must meet. The certification also states who created it and how long it is valid for.
Transparency towards your customers is an important competitive advantage. You play with open cards and can always give an account of the various and certified steps of the translation work according to ISO 17100. Such transparency creates trust and trust creates new customers.
ISO certifications create trust
Security and quality are the first steps to get customers interested in your language services. But the decision to actually use it is based on trust.
Trust is important in translation for several reasons:
- You work on personal and private documents
- You have insight into business contracts
- You may learn trade secrets
- They help people make a new start, for example when emigrating
A high level of responsibility lies with a translation service provider (ÜDL). To achieve this, customers need to be sure they can trust you. Fine words and work samples alone are not enough. With an ISO 17100 certification you can explain at any time how high your quality requirements are, how you design your work processes and why confidential documents are in safe hands with you. It is part of the ISO 17100 definition that trust and transparency are created.
ISO certifications improve your work process
No master has fallen from heaven yet, and even successful translation service providers and translation agencies can still improve. The ISO certification process kills two birds with one stone: you receive a recognized quality mark and at the same time learn to adapt your work process to international standards and quality guidelines.
You can reach us by phone on +41 44 552 66 19 or send an email to Mr. Markus Kukla, head of the certification body. We look forward to hearing from you!
How to improve your work process with ISO 17100:2015
The certification requires you to clearly explain how your processes are designed in four areas. These are then compared with the regulations of ISO 17100. These areas are:
Resources
- Which translators do you employ and what professional qualifications do they have?
- Who is responsible for editing, who manages the translation projects, which external service providers work for you and what technology is used?
Production preparation
- How do you process inquiries and on what basis are offers written?
- How is the project prepared and how are specifications documented?
Production
- How does the translation process work?
- Is machine translation used?
- How many steps are there for editing and technical review?
- How do you structure the correction and internal approval?
- How is the final release documented?
Production follow-up
- What are the after-sales processes?
- How is customer feedback processed?
- How do you deal with complaints and improvements?
- What administrative processes are in place at the end of the service?
If you meet the requirements of ISO 17100 certification in all respects, you have significantly optimized your work process. Adjustments to the processes are possible during the certification process. Your company will not only be awarded a certificate, but will also perform excellently.
Frequently asked questions about ISO 17100 certification
What are the ISO 17100 certification costs?
The cost of certification depends on the size of your company and the effort and time required for the audit. You can have an offer created based on your individual circumstances. For a company with 5 employees, a certification audit costs 1,350.00 euros in additional travel and accommodation costs.
Where does ISO 17100 certification apply?
While the old DIN EN 15038 only applied in the EU, ISO 17100 is a globally recognized standard. It is an internationally recognized quality standard for translation service providers (ÜDL) or in English for language service providers (LSP).
How long does an ISO 17100 certification take?
The duration of the audit depends on the basic conditions that we find during the certification. The more they meet the requirements of the ISO standard and the better they are documented, the faster a certificate can be issued. Another factor is whether there are any processes in the process that still need to be improved.
Conclusion
With an ISO 17100:2015 certification you can guarantee your customers the high quality of your service and create trust. At the same time, you can optimize your own work process through the certification process. With an ISO certificate you can reach customers worldwide because it is internationally recognized.