After making initial contact, a client sends over their text in order for me to provide a quote. The text is analysed and a word count is performed: pricing per word count ensures transparency from the outset. It is vital to have a well-functioning communication channel with the customer before, during and after the translation phase to resolve any uncertainties as soon as possible.

Then I send an offer to the client, outlining the number of words, price per unit, total price (with or without taxes) and the delivery deadline. Please note: rates are mostly agreed upfront, so a simple email to confirm the project is enough to accept my terms and conditions.

The client provides any special requests, instructions, style guidelines, previous translations or terminology lists, as explained in my Terms of service, and specifies their preferred CAT tool (if any). These specifications allow me to begin work on the translation.

Depending on the format of the files, a specialist translation tool will be used. Many businesses have their own localisation departments or DTP experts who can prepare the files themselves or give me guidance to do so.

The translation process includes consulting specialised resources and researching terminology. All translations are edited before delivery. If clients do not have their own reviewer, I can also arrange proofreading by a linguist colleague or medical professional.

The last step before delivery, QA checks are performed based on the client’s or my own checklists and using QA tools.

After the translation is completed and delivered via email, FTP or other previously specified channel, clients often have the document reviewed in-house and send their feedback.

I then provide advice and/or explanations to the client or their reviewer with the end goal of harmonising the text to achieve the best possible final version.

The final files are uploaded to the requested client location. After the file transfer is complete, post-delivery analysis is conducted to prepare optimal groundwork for successful future collaboration.