Business Abroad

In a rapidly changing global economy where borders are disappearing, companies are constantly seeking ways to expand their reach beyond local markets. Professional translation companies play a crucial role in this expansion process. Indeed, translation enables clear and effective communication with international customers and partners, making it a strategic tool for accessing new markets. This article explores the various ways in which translation helps companies conquer new commercial territories.

1. Improving communication with customers

The first step when entering a new market is to understand and connect with consumers. Thanks to translation, companies can communicate effectively in the local language, ensuring that potential partners and consumers understand their products and services. Clear and tailored communication strengthens consumer trust and engagement. For example, well-translated brochures, websites, and marketing materials will capture the attention and interest of more potential customers.

2. Cultural adaptation and localisation

Translation is not limited to converting words in one language to those in another; it often involves a localisation process, which means adapting the message to connect with the target audience's culture. This process can range from small adjustments in format and style to significant content modifications, ensuring they always align with different norms and worldviews. Good localisation shows that the company respects and understands cultural differences, which will enhance local consumer acceptance and trust.

3. Access to new distribution channels

A translation agency also helps companies to collaborate more effectively with their foreign partners, including distributors and retailers. Being able to provide manuals, commercial agreements, or technical documents in the native language greatly simplifies negotiations and day-to-day operations. This increased accessibility not only opens new distribution channels but also strengthens the company's market presence, ensuring a smoother and more successful expansion.

4. Regulatory compliance

Every country has its own laws, especially when it comes to importing products and services. The accurate translation of legal documents, certificates of conformity, and safety instructions is essential to ensure ongoing compliance with the legal requirements in the target market. Otherwise, companies can face costly delays, significant fines, and even a ban on operating in the market in question. Ensuring legal compliance through rigorous translation not only avoids these risks but also helps gain the trust of local authorities and consumers.

5. Multilingual customer service

Effective customer service is key to customer satisfaction and loyalty. By offering this service in the local language, companies show they care about their customers and are ready to meet their needs in a personalised manner. This includes multilingual call centres, translated FAQs, and localised user guides. Effective customer service enhances the brand's reputation and can be the difference between a loyal customer and a lost one.

6. Brand image and reputation

High-quality translation guaranteed by a translation company is a crucial tool for strengthening your brand's image internationally. By communicating smoothly and adapting culturally to the local language, you will convey professionalism and commitment to customers worldwide. A good reputation in a new market will attract new customers and retain existing ones, creating a stable and loyal customer base.

7. Market analysis and understanding

To succeed in a new market, it is essential to understand the needs and preferences of local consumers. The translation of market analyses, surveys, and case studies allows companies to gain valuable insights and make better decisions. This in-depth market knowledge helps guide marketing and product development strategies, increasing the chances of success and better meeting consumer expectations.

Conclusion

Translation goes far beyond playing a simple communication role; it is a fundamental strategy for companies looking to enter new markets. By facilitating communication, respecting cultural differences, ensuring compliance, and strengthening customer relationships, translation agencies play a key role in helping companies establish themselves on the international stage. A high-quality translation and localisation service is not an expense but a strategic investment that will open doors to new growth opportunities.

The Opening Ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games will be held today, Friday 26 July, marking the start of a major event that is much more than just a sporting event. It is a global celebration that attracts millions of spectators, athletes, journalists and tourists from around the world.

This year, Paris is hosting this emblematic event, offering a unique opportunity for French companies to capitalise on this international affluence. To maximise economic opportunities, translation plays a crucial role, not only in facilitating communication, but also in opening up new business prospects. Find out how in this article.

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Translation: an essential tool for international communication

The Olympic Games bring together participants from over 200 countries, each speaking their own language and bringing their own culture. Translation by native translators is therefore essential to ensure effective and inclusive communication. Here are some of the main fields in which translation is crucial:

Access to information

Spectators, athletes and officials must have access to clear and accurate information in their mother tongue. This includes signage, public announcements, spectator guides and event programmes. In 2021, the Tokyo Olympic Games attracted a global audience of over 3.05 billion viewers. For Paris, effective multilingual communication will be essential to maintain this global commitment.

Media coverage

Journalists from all over the world cover the Olympic Games, and translation means that reports can be broadcast in a variety of languages, reaching a global audience. Social media platforms and official websites must offer multilingual content to engage international fans. This includes real-time updates, athlete interviews and competition results.

Tourism activities and the impact of translation

Tourists visiting Paris for the Olympics are looking to enjoy a wide range of activities in addition to the sporting events. Professional translators play a crucial role in making these activities accessible and enjoyable for everyone.

Accommodation

Hotels, holiday rentals and youth hostels must be prepared to welcome visitors of different nationalities. The translation of accommodation services makes it possible to:

• Facilitate bookings: Online booking platforms must offer information in several languages to enable international visitors to book their accommodation easily. Sites like Booking.com and Airbnb already use multilingual translations to reach a global audience.
• Improve the customer experience: Brochures, welcome guides and in-room instructions should be available in several languages so that guests feel comfortable and well informed. For example, safety instructions, breakfast times and information on local services must be clear and understandable to all guests.

Restaurants and gastronomy

Paris is renowned for its exceptional cuisine, and tourists will want to sample this culinary experience. Restaurants and cafés can obtain the following benefits from translation:

• Menu translation: Offering translated menus enables visitors to understand the dishes on offer and make informed choices. This also reduces misunderstandings and ordering errors.
• Customer service: Training staff to greet customers in different languages can significantly improve the experience of international customers.

Visits and tourist attractions

Paris's iconic monuments, such as the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe and the Louvre, will attract many visitors. Tourism translation is essential for: 

• Tourist guides: Guided tours should be available in several languages so that tourists can fully appreciate the history and culture of the sites they visit. Multilingual audio guides are an excellent way of providing an enriching experience.
• Informative signs: Information on monuments, museums and exhibitions must be translated to make it accessible to all visitors. This includes descriptions of the works of art, the history of monuments and practical instructions.

Shopping and retail

Tourists like to bring back souvenirs from their trip.  Shops can attract more customers by using:

• Multilingual signage: Price labels, product descriptions and promotions must be available in several languages. This makes it easier to understand the offers and encourages purchases.    
• Multilingual staff: Having staff who can speak several languages or using instant translation tools can improve customer service and increase sales.

Benefits for French companies  

The economic impact of the Olympic Games is immense, with billions of euros generated by the tourism, hotel, restaurant and retail sectors. By offering services and information in several languages, companies can attract and satisfy an international customer base.

Clear, understandable communication improves the customer experience, increasing customer satisfaction and loyalty. Companies can also use translation to promote their products and services to an international audience, opening up new markets and business opportunities.

Furthermore, the presence of numerous international delegations and companies in Paris offers unique opportunities for business partnerships. Translation facilitates negotiations and collaboration, enabling companies to forge lasting relationships with foreign partners.

Case studies: translation success at past Olympic Games

The London 2012 Olympic Games

In London, local businesses benefited greatly from the influx of international tourists. Translation efforts made visitors feel welcome and well informed, leading to an increase in tourist spending. Companies that invested in translation projects saw a significant increase in traffic and sales.

The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games (postponed to 2021)

Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Tokyo Games demonstrated the importance of digital translation. Streaming platforms and social networks played a crucial role in broadcasting multilingual content, reaching a massive global audience. Local companies used language services and specialist translators to adapt their online offerings, attracting international customers even from a distance.

Conclusion

The Paris 2024 Olympic Games represent an exceptional opportunity for French companies to capitalise on the influx of international visitors. Translation plays a key role in facilitating communication, improving the customer experience and opening up new business opportunities. By using the services of translation agencies for their quality translation services, companies can not only attract and satisfy an international clientele, but also strengthen their position in the global marketplace.

The Olympics are not just a celebration of sport, but also a springboard for economic growth and business opportunities. For French companies, it's a unique opportunity to shine on the international stage and benefit from this emblematic global event.

In the age of globalisation and the rapid expansion of the internet, companies and entrepreneurs must seize every opportunity to reach a wider audience and increase their visibility. One of the most effective strategies for achieving this is to translate their website into English. Here are the main reasons why this approach can greatly benefit your company.

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1. Reaching a wider audience

One of the most obvious reasons for translating your website into English is to increase your potential audience. English is the most widely spoken language in the world, with around 1.5 billion speakers, including more than 375 million native speakers. It is also the main language in many parts of the world, including North America, Europe, Australia and much of Asia. By translating your website, you make your products and services accessible to a much wider population.

English-speaking markets include major economies such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and many others. This allows you to diversify your customer base and not be solely dependent on your local market.

By making your website understandable to this wide audience, you can attract international visitors who might not otherwise be able to understand your content. This is particularly crucial if you sell products or services that can be shipped or offered internationally.

Advantages:

• Increase in international traffic.
• Growth opportunities on foreign markets.
• Diversification of revenue sources.

2. Improving your brand image

Having a multilingual site, particularly in English, enhances your company's credibility and professionalism. It shows that you are prepared to invest in adapting to your customers and that you take their user experience seriously. A strong, international brand image can attract not only customers, but also potential partners and investors. This can reinforce your brand's credibility and set you apart from your competitors who only offer one language.

Advantages:

• Strengthening of international credibility.
• Positive brand perception.
• Attracting business partners and investment.

3. Optimising your search engine optimisation (SEO)

Translating your website into English can also improve your search engine optimisation (SEO). Search engines such as Google index sites according to their content, and having pages in English means that you will appear in the search results of English-speaking users. By using keywords in English, you can attract more organic traffic from English-speaking users, which will increase your online visibility. Furthermore, quality content in English can attract backlinks from other websites, further improving your authority and SEO ranking.

Advantages:

• Better position in search results.
• Increase in organic traffic.
• Lower marketing costs thanks to better SEO.

4. Increasing competitiveness and market share

In an increasingly competitive world, every advantage counts. Thanks to the professional translation of your website into English, you will stand out from your competitors who may not yet have taken this step. This can give you a head start and may attract customers who prefer to interact with companies that are accessible in English. 

With an enlarged audience comes an increased sales opportunity. If your products or services can be sold internationally, having a website in English can considerably increase your sales. Consumers are more inclined to buy products when they can read the descriptions and understand the benefits in their mother tongue. What's more, numerous studies show that users spend more time on websites that are in a language they understand, increasing conversion opportunities. This increases your market share and encourages new customers to stay with you.

Advantages:

• Differentiation from local competitors.
• Increase in market share.
• Loyalty of new international customers.

5. Facilitating international expansion and partnerships

Having a website in English also facilitates relations and partnerships with international companies. Whether it's for collaborations, link exchanges or market opportunities, an English website shows that you're ready to work internationally. This can open doors to business opportunities that you might not otherwise have been able to seize. An English-language website serves as a global showcase, making your products and services accessible without language barriers. To ensure that your website is translated properly, we recommend that you call on the services of professional translators in the field.

Advantages:

• Simplification of expansion procedures.
• Better international prospecting.
• Easier commercial relations.

6. Improving customer commitment and satisfaction

Customers are more likely to engage with your website and make purchases when they can navigate and understand the content in their own language. As English is a widely understood language, this can improve the user experience, reduce bounce rates and increase conversion rates. A better user experience leads to greater satisfaction and loyalty.

An English-language website also provides better customer service for English speakers. Customers can easily find information about your products or services, read FAQs and contact support in English. This improves their experience and increases the likelihood that they will return for future purchases.

Advantages:

• Better user experience.
• Reduced bounce rate.
• Increased conversions and sales.

7. Adapting to trends in e-commerce and emerging markets

E-commerce is booming and increasingly international. Consumers are buying products and services abroad with increasing frequency. By having a website in English, you are better prepared to meet this global demand and take advantage of the opportunities offered by online commerce.

Furthermore, many emerging markets, particularly in Asia and Africa, use English as their primary or secondary language of communication, allowing you to capture valuable market share before your competitors do.

Advantages:

• Response to market trends.
• Increase in online sales.
• Strategic positioning on the international market.

Conclusion

Translating your website into English is an essential strategic decision for extending the reach and success of your business. This improves your competitiveness, facilitates international expansion, strengthens customer commitment and positions you advantageously on the global market. With this aim in mind, we advise you to call on the services of a translation agency. These agencies play a crucial role with their language services, providing accurate and culturally appropriate translations, which are essential for attracting and retaining international customers. Investing in the translation of your website is an investment in the future of your business, opening the doors to a fast-growing global market on which being accessible in English is no longer an option but a necessity.

Translating your content into Spanish can transform your business by enabling it to reach a huge and diverse market. Spanish opens up unique opportunities to improve online visibility, strengthen customer confidence and facilitate international expansion. This article explores ten key reasons why adopting Spanish in your content strategy is a wise investment to boost your growth and overall success. 

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1.    Access a huge market

Spanish is the second most widely spoken language in the world, with over 460 million native speakers. By choosing to translate your content into Spanish, you open the doors to a vast and diverse audience, covering the markets of Latin America, Spain and even the United States, where the Spanish-speaking community is growing rapidly.

For example, the Spanish-speaking market in the United States represents a purchasing power of over 1.5 trillion dollars. Accessing this market via a specialist translation agency can significantly increase your global reach and allow you to capitalise on the enormous consumer potential of these regions.

2.    Increase online visibility

Translating your content into Spanish can considerably improve your natural search engine optimisation (SEO). Appearing in Spanish-language search results enables your website to attract more traffic, increasing your conversion opportunities. Studies show that multilingual websites have a distinct SEO advantage, as search engines like Google favour content in several languages. An experienced translation company can help you optimise your content to attract and convert Spanish-speaking users.

3.    Build trust and credibility

Communicating in your potential customers' mother tongue shows that you value and respect their culture. This can build trust and loyalty to your brand. For example, a study revealed that 72% of consumers prefer to buy products with information in their mother tongue. Working with a translation agency allows you to ensure accurate and culturally appropriate communication, which is essential in sectors such as healthcare, finance and professional services.

4.    Expand your customer base

By making your products or services accessible to a Spanish-speaking audience, you can reach new market segments and increase your sales and profitability. Spanish-speaking communities, representing a growing demographic group with considerable purchasing power, are a high-potential market segment. For example, the Latin American e-commerce market grew by more than 30% in 2020. By including Spanish in your content strategy, you can maximise your market potential and open up new business opportunities.

5.    Improve user engagement 

Consumers are more likely to engage with content in their mother tongue. The creation of translated content can lead to an increase in social media interactions, comments and shares.

This increased engagement can improve your online visibility and foster a more active community around your brand. For example, publications in Spanish on social media can reach and engage a much wider and more diverse audience. What's more, this can lead to greater brand recognition and increased customer loyalty.

6.    Facilitate international expansion

If you're planning to expand internationally, having content translated into Spanish can make it easier to enter Spanish-speaking markets. This simplifies communication and marketing processes, making your expansion smoother and more efficient. Language barriers can be a major obstacle to internationalisation. A translation company can help you navigate the cultural and linguistic specificities of each country, increasing your chances of success on new markets.

7.    Cultural adaptation

Translation is not just about converting words, it's also about adapting your message to the local culture. A good translation takes into account cultural nuances and local preferences, making your content more relevant and attractive to the target audience. A translation agency experienced in marketing will know how to adapt your message to resonate with the local audience, using appropriate expressions and cultural references.

8.    Competitive advantage

Few companies are fully exploiting the potential of the Spanish-speaking market. By translating your content, you can stand out from your competitors and capture valuable market share. Companies that take the initiative to translate their content into Spanish can gain a significant competitive advantage by becoming more accessible and attractive to Spanish-speaking consumers.

9.    Meet customer expectations

Many customers prefer to buy and interact with companies that speak their language. By providing quality content in Spanish, you are responding to this preference and improving the customer experience. This personalisation of the user experience can increase customer satisfaction and encourage long-term loyalty. Customers feel more valued and understood, which can encourage them to return and recommend your company to others.

10.  Support effective communication 

Effective communication reduces the risk of confusion and dissatisfaction, and helps to build a customer relationship based on transparency and clarity. For example, in the medical field, accurate translations can be crucial to ensuring effective and safe communication between healthcare professionals and Spanish-speaking patients.

Conclusion

In short, translating your content into Spanish offers many strategic advantages for your company. Whether it's to access new markets, improve your SEO, or strengthen customer loyalty, investing in high-quality translations can bring a significant and lasting return on investment.

If you want to explore these opportunities, using a professional translation agency can be the key to maximising your success on the Spanish-speaking market. A translation company like AbroadLink will be able to guide you in adapting your content and capturing the attention of this vast potential audience thanks to its language services.

Companies are constantly looking for new ways to expand and diversify into new markets. International market development is a way for companies to expand outside their home country and to open up to new customers and business opportunities abroad. However, effective international market development requires proper planning and strategy.

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Understanding the target market

Before starting our international market strategy, it is important to understand the target market. This includes research on culture, economic trends, laws and regulations, competition and consuming patterns. It is also important to determine whether the product or service is suitable for that specific market. Companies can turn to organisations such as in-country International Chambers of Commerce or government institutions for foreign trade for information on the target market.

Building local partnerships

Local partnerships can be very useful for companies seeking to expand internationally. Partnerships can include distribution agreements, joint ventures with local companies or collaborations with local marketing and sales experts. Local partnerships can help companies understand the target market and access local distribution networks.

Using social media

Social media is a powerful way for companies to connect with potential customers abroad. Companies can use social networks to promote their product or service, build their brand and establish relationships with consumers. It is important to understand cultural differences and consumer preferences when planning a social media strategy. Companies can also use machine translation tools to assist communication in other languages.

Translation and localisation

When entering an international market, it is important to adapt to local and cultural conventions. This often means translating your website and products to make them accessible to local consumers.

There are many tools available to help you translate and localise your business, including:

Online translation tools

There are many online translation tools, such as Google Translate, that can help you quickly translate your website and products for free or at low cost for a first approach. However, if your business iniciatives consolidate, it is best to use a professional translator or a translation agency like AbroadLink, which has many professional translators in different fields to ensure the quality of the translation. 

Localisation software

One of the first tools to consider when developing your business internationally is localisation software. These allow you to tailor your website, marketing content and products to the needs of each target market.

Localization software can efficiently handle the translation of your website into many languages, while helping you to respect local cultural conventions and business practices. This may include changing colours, images and content to suit the culture and preferences of each target market.

There are a number of localisation software packages on the market, such as Smartling, MemoQ and SDL Trados, to name but a few. Each has its own features and benefits, so it's important to choose the one that best suits your specific needs based on the size of your business, the complexity of your content and your budget.

By using effective localisation software, you can improve the quality of your translation while reducing costs and increasing the speed of the localisation process. It can also help you avoid costly mistakes and translation errors that can damage your reputation with your foreign customers.

Using e-commerce

E-commerce can be an effective way for companies to expand internationally. Companies can use e-commerce platforms such as Amazon, Alibaba or eBay to sell their products or services online to customers around the world. E-commerce can help companies to access new markets without having to invest in costly local infrastructure. It is also useful to familiarise yourself with the e-commerce laws and regulations in different countries to ensure that online transactions are secure and comply with local regulations.

Optimising the website for search engines

When companies expand internationally, it is important to optimise their website for search engines. This can include the use of local keywords and localised content to help potential customers find the website when they search online. It is also important to ensure that the website is compatible with the different browsers and devices used in different countries.

International communication 

When companies expand internationally, it is important to have clear and effective communication with local customers, business partners and employees. International communication can be a challenge, as there may be language, cultural and time zone differences to consider.

There are companies that offer international communication services that can help companies overcome these challenges. Integrate a professional virtual telephone service, with the possibility of virtual telephone numbers in over 100 countries. Companies can use local numbers to communicate with their customers and employees abroad, without having to invest in costly local infrastructure.

You can also opt for teleconferencing services and international call centre services, which will help companies to improve communication with customers and employees abroad. Businesses can use these services to hold virtual meetings, make remote presentations and manage inbound and outbound calls.

Do not hesitate to take care of communication to strengthen your presence abroad, which will help to increase your success in new markets.

Calling on experts in international development

For some, international market development can be complex and confusing. Companies can call on international market development experts to help them plan and implement an effective strategy. Experts can help companies navigate local laws and regulations, establish local partnerships and optimise their online presence.

In conclusion, international market development can be a powerful way for companies to grow and diversify. However, it is important to plan and implement an effective strategy to ensure success abroad. Tools such as understanding the target market, local partnerships, social media, e-commerce, website search engine optimisation and the use of international market development experts, as well as translation agencies to translate websites, can help companies achieve their international market development goals effectively.

The year 2023 is full of opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises to offer their products and services. These events are the meeting point for a large number of SMEs, providing a very relevant means of dissemination. Those with an international character are obviously a good opportunity to attract customers. But it can all come to nothing if basic aspects of communication are neglected. At such events, relying on a reliable translation agency can make a difference.

A major transport and logistics congress called ASTRE will be held in 2023. Languages such as Italian, German and Portuguese will therefore be in common use. Companies wishing to have new business relationships in order to sell should bear in mind that it is essential to have made efforts in this respect. For a company in the sector that wishes to develop in these markets, it is clear that an English translation is non-negotiable, because not only must it have its documentation and content in Spanish, but it must also show the necessary solvency to offer good communication.

The Basque Open Industry 2023, in which the Basque Country will become the centre of European industry and SMEs, will take place in November. This is an event with a strong commercial focus that could lead to the creation of new bridges. Translating a website and all the sections that make it up is a task that is not carried out automatically. The use of translators, even the most advanced ones based on artificial intelligence, is a double-edged sword. The right thing to do is to entrust this task to a translation company. Machines cannot differentiate words with multiple meanings, they make mistakes and, above all, they are unable to contextualise a text. Just imagine the problems this can cause for companies seeking to stand out, attract customers and project a good image.

1. The importance of good communication skills

In an increasingly globalised world, it has become easier to do business with customers from any country. Hence the importance of entrusting translation services to professional companies. These events are not only a showcase, but also a fantastic opportunity to establish business links. Translation companies must be able to offer a suitable service to all companies that request it. To do this, they must have the right professionals who can offer a diverse range of languages, depending on the languages of origin of the emerging powers. Obviously, we are talking about countries like China or India, which are setting the pace in international trade.

It is clear that companies that rely heavily on a good translation and interpreting service are the ones that will have the best business opportunities. In many countries it is seen as a priority for a business partner to be able to communicate in the source language of the company with which they want to do business.

Therefore, translation agencies play a key role. Especially now that competitiveness is at its peak in the aftermath of the pandemic. Past formulas, which were once successful, are no longer valid; it is now necessary to go for versatility and to offer adequate communication to both parties. This is another way for the company to put its cards on the table, but it is clear that the results are not long in coming.

SME events in 2023 are just around the corner and will be the start of a year full of opportunities for everyone. Showing that you are a serious company, that you rely on quality communication and that you are able to offer your catalogue without mistakes in any language, is a step forward and puts you in an advantageous position. Anything less than these solutions is nothing more than a waste of time, but above all, a missed opportunity that may not happen again.

The Medical Device Regulation (MDR) 2017/745 was implemented not only to ensure users' access to performance data and to increase patient safety, but also to comply with the EU’s promotion of multilingualism and the goal of linguistic diversity as key values reconciled in the Treaty on the European Union. However, the regulations translate into expanded linguistic requirements for MedTech manufacturers and their business contents.

There are 24 official EU-languages, counting all 30 Member States of the EU-single market (EU and EEA). Each and every state needs to be taken into consideration if your medical device is to be sold in European countries, since the Regulations’ language requirements are bound to national legislation as the article 10 of Regulation 2017/745 states:

“Manufacturers shall ensure that the device is accompanied by the information set out in Section 23 of Annex I in an official Union language(s) determined by the Member State in which the device is made available to the user or patient.”

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1. Language requirements to be determined by national law

The language requirements are left up to 30 national legislatures, so manufactures need to adapt their product language to the country where they want to market it. Some Member States have several official languages others only one, while there are also different language requirements for layperson content and professional user content.

2. Labeling, Packaging and Instructions for Use

We can generally remember: All patient user information must be available in the country’s official language(s). This is mandatory to ensure patient safety. This rule changes if the device is only to be used by professionals. Annex II, article 2, of the EU Regulation 2017/745 states:

“— the instructions for use in the languages accepted in the Member States where the device is envisaged to be sold.”

“— the label or labels on the device and on its packaging, such as single unit packaging, sales packaging, transport packaging in case of specific management conditions, in the languages accepted in the Member States where the device is envisaged to be sold; and.” 

Here is a short overview of the languages accepted by Member States regarding the medical device user orientation:

(*) indicates that there are exceptions

3. Declaration of Conformity

The requirements for the declaration of conformity are at first sight the same as for labelling, packaging and IFUs, but don’t let appearances deceive you. As already mentioned before, regulations and laws are always subject to interpretation. The declaration of conformity is an official document declaring the compliance of EU product requirements, signed by manufacturers/REPs and presented to the competent authority of the target market. Therefore, the language requirements differ to those applicable to user requirements. For instance, in contrast to labelling, English is widely accepted among many Member State authorities.

Article 19.1 of the EU MDR states: “The EU declaration of conformity shall, as a minimum, contain the information set out in Annex IV and shall be translated into an official Union language or languages required by the Member State(s) in which the device is made available.”

Don’t forget that “all information and documentation necessary to demonstrate the conformity of the device” is subject to the same requirement. (2017/745 Art. 11, d.)

4. Implant Card

The Implant Card (IC) must be provided by manufacturers to the patient.

As stated in article 18.1(a) of the EU Regulation, it needs to include:

“Information allowing the identification of the device, including the device name, serial number, lot number, the UDI, the device model, as well as the name, address and the website of the manufacturer;”

The purposes of ICs are:

• to enable the patient to get access to detailed information related with the implanted device
• to enable patients to make own security checks
• to enable health care professionals to take right measures in emergency situations

Article 18.1 precises: “The information referred to in the first subparagraph shall be provided, for the purpose of making it available to the particular patient who has been implanted with the device, by any means that allow rapid access to that information and shall be stated in the language(s) determined by the concerned Member State.”

5. Field Safety Notice (FSN)

As manufacturer/REP you are responsible for the safety of all users. As soon as there is any safety risk related to your medical device you must send out an official communication detailing field corrective actions to follow by any user, that’s to say, a Field Safety Notice. This information needs to be “consistent in all Member States” and, due to its relevant content, Article 89.8. established

“The field safety notice shall be edited in an official Union language or languages determined by the Member State in which the field safety corrective action is taken.”

6. What Role do Distributors and Importers Play to Fulfil Language Requirements?

Apart from manufacturers, distributors and importers also have to assume responsibility for quality assurance of the provided translations as reflected in Article 16.3 of the MDR:

“Distributors and importers shall ensure that they have in place a quality management system that includes procedures which ensure that the translation of information is accurate and up-to-date […]”

7. Translation Procedures for your QM-System

The regulation leaves room for interpretations on how to prove that the translation quality is assured.

This is why manufactures, under the guidance of Notified Bodies’ auditors, may follow different strategies to prove their compliance with the law.

Approaches can vary from comprehensive procedures regarding translation, like complying with the standard ISO 17100 that requires an additional revision step after the texts have been translated by professional translators, requiring translation certificates to be signed by all linguists involved or creating a procedure for the qualification of critical suppliers, which, in case of translation providers, can be limited to the possession of certain certifications like the ISO 9001, ISO 17100 and ISO 13485.

China's population was 1.439 billion in 2020, an increase of 72 million since the last census in 2010. Most economists expect the country, which is close behind the United States as the world's second largest economy, to eventually become the world's largest economy.

Mastering Mandarin Chinese, the world's most widely spoken language, increases the chances of better understanding a world that has changed dramatically in recent decades.

Having commercial texts translated into Chinese is also a way to close advantageous business deals, giving you a competitive advantage.

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1. Chinese influence linked to the economy

Whether or not China is in first place, there is no doubt that, as the world's second largest economy, the influence of its main language is only growing.

The Chinese aim to outdo their US rivals in all areas: banking (de-dollarisation), economic, technological, military, industrial, conquest of space, etc.

As the second language on the Internet, Chinese has seen its share of users grow by 2,650% between 2000 and 2021, reaching almost 20% of the global total, according to Internet World Stats.

As a result, the Chinese language is used by a growing number of institutions. The official body is the Hanban or "National Office for the Teaching of Chinese as a Foreign Language", which is the umbrella organisation for the Confucius Institutes around the world.

2. Simplification of the Chinese language to facilitate its learning

Mandarin originated first from archaic Chinese and then from medieval Chinese: its history involves many dynasties. It is therefore by no means a fixed language.

One of the biggest challenges of learning Chinese, when you are a foreigner, is the thousands of characters called sinograms that you have to master in order to read and write correctly.

Recognising this difficulty, the Chinese government validated the use of pinyin in 1979 as the official system of language romanisation.

In this way, the main barrier to learning the language disappears in favour of a system that also facilitates the pronunciation of the different tones.

3. Exponential growth in Chinese translation

For all translation agencies, the market share of Chinese translations has been growing substantially for years, as many companies wishing to establish themselves in China have recurring needs in this field, which undoubtedly has a bright future.

We have ranked the Translators' Association of China (TAC) (a member of the International Federation of Translators since 1987) among the top 8 translators' associations in the world.

4. Current barriers to Chinese language development

Despite its strong economic performance, China also faces unsettled times after years in which global trade has been complicated by the health issue.

It is therefore possible that the Chinese are temporarily losing interest as attitudes change. Some have preferred to turn inwards: abandoning "made in China", returning to their own culture, or even turning to the supposed ease of English.

But China will remain the country to watch in the future. Chinese is already an important language and will only grow. If one wants to make a point on this, one could say that, although it is not necessarily the only language of the future, it is certainly a language with a great future.

At AbroadLink, we can help you with quality business translations into Chinese: our renowned translators are native speakers.

Talking to a robot for help is no longer only possible in science fiction films, and users are well aware of this.

According to a study conducted by Oracle, 80% of companies already use or plan to use a chatbot in the near future.

Does your company sell its products or services abroad? Having a multilingual chatbot will be of great help.

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1. Why create a multilingual chatbot?

If you wish to internationalise your company, creating a multilingual chatbot should be considered for several reasons:

Firstly, it improves customer experience. Users will be able to interact more quickly and easily if they chat in the language they feel most comfortable with.

It also helps to expand your customer base. Being able to answer users' questions will help you gain more and more customers.

Moreover, it is a real asset to stand out from the competition. A chatbot that speaks the customer's language will inevitably be perceived as a more reliable service because it focuses on the quality of the user’s experience.

Finally, it allows you to save time and money thanks to process automation.

2. The best solutions for creating a multilingual chatbot

This technology is now very accessible, as many solutions allow you to create a customised chatbot. Below, I propose some solutions that do not require any programming knowledge.

2.1. Botsify

Botsify allows you to design a chatbot on Facebook Messenger, on your website or on WhatsApp in several languages.

You can integrate it into WordPress and other platforms as well as add images, videos and files.

As for pricing, Botsify is free for 1 chatbot used by a maximum of 100 users. Paid packages start from $40 a month.

2.2. Chatfuel

Chatfuel allows you to create bots for Messenger and Instagram. You can add images, files and videos, and edit your content at any time.

These chatbots are also multilingual. Thanks to its simple interface, you can create your chatbot in just a few minutes.

Chatfuel is free for a chatbot used by a maximum of 50 users, while pro packages start at $15 a month. Chatfuel can also create a customised chatbot.

2.3. Flow XO

With Flow XO you can integrate your multilingual chatbot into a dozen platforms, such as Gmail, Slack, LinkedIn, Facebook Messenger, Telegram or even your website.

The chatbot can also collect information through forms or surveys. The user can start the conversation on one platform and continue it on another without losing the thread of the discussion.

The bot is free for 100 interactions per month and the standard package is $25 a month, allowing 5,000 interactions per month, user data download and more.

2.4. Hubspot

With this chatbot creation software, you can qualify your leads, organise meetings and offer customer service.

Your chatbot will be integrated into your website in any language. With its predefined templates, you can choose the functions and responses of your chatbot while customising them.

The creation of your chatbot is completely free as long as you have a Hubspot account.

3. What type of translation does my multilingual chatbot need?

Let's be clear, using machine translation for your chatbot will only undermine its efforts of improving the customer experience.

As with any marketing translation, some very important aspects must be taken into account, such as expressions, idioms and language variants. Therefore, the translation of your chatbot must be adapted to the local culture.

Thus, it would be necessary to work with professional translators specialised in marketing translation for translating your chatbot. These specialised native speakers will deliver high-quality results and adapt the text to the local culture. This allows users to better understand the target language.

It is crucial to have a deep understanding of the societies of the countries you work with or operate in, due to the many cultural differences involved.

In this article, we will look at some aspects to consider in order to better adapt your marketing strategy to the international market.

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1. Mastering the language to adapt to the market

In order to adapt the foreign language as best as possible to the market, understanding the nuances it conveys is essential For a French woman visiting Spain, she will be pleasantly surprised to see that "Auchan" is known as "Alcampo". 

The name Alcampo not only sounds completely Spanish, but it is also the direct translation of the brand "Auchan". On one hand, "champ” (countryside) is pronounced in French as "chan” and translates to "campo" in Spanish. On the other hand, "au” (to the) in French can be translated as "al", so "Auchan" equals "Au champ" equals "Alcampo” (to the countryside). Simple and effective! 

Word plays, slogans, and expressions must be understandable and appropriate to the society’s customs and ways of life. Furthermore, humour must be used with caution. That is why it is always a good idea to leave this task in the hands of professional translators.

For this reason, professional translation agencies work with native translators specialised in advertising and marketing to assist our clients in their international marketing strategy.

2. Different colours and symbols in different countries

Colours and symbols should not be overlooked either. Depending on the country, colours do not have the same meaning. For example, white is associated with mourning in China, while in most Western societies it is the colour black.

The delivery company UPS has made some mistakes when internationalising in Europe.

Particularly in Germany, where the brown uniform of the delivery drivers was poorly received because it reminded people of the "Brownshirts", a group linked to the Nazi regime.

3. Beware of cultural clashes

It is also important to take into account cultures and traditions to avoid offending a community, and it would be advisable to adapt your promotion strategies to the country you are in. 

For example, major brands H&M or Galeries Lafayette in Dubai offer promotions during the Eid holiday period, which marks the end of Ramadan in Islamic tradition.

4. Do not touch what is sacred 

Respect for the country's religion must also be considered. Take for example McDonald's, which replaced beef in its burgers with lamb because cows are considered a sacred animal in India.

The local environment and specific tastes of each country are elements to consider in order to attract a population that already has specific customs.

Looking back at the example of McDonald's, the fast food chain adapts its sandwiches according to each country’s cuisine, which is why you can find McBaguette in France or McKebab in Israel.

5. Analysing differences in living conditions

The standard of living, social security, and purchasing power of consumers are decisive factors for setting the price of a product or service. 

If we compare healthcare systems, we will realise that not all countries are the same.

For example, some patients from certain countries will have to pay more for a dental prosthesis than others. Therefore, it will be advisable to adjust prices according to these circumstances.

6. Conclusion

Considering all these factors help in attracting foreign customers. 

Therefore, knowing, understanding, and adapting to customers are crucial steps for internationalisation and also allow for developing creativity.