While the term “translation agency” is the most common, it is less adapted to our profession than “translation company”.
The word “agency” refers to administration (e.g. regional agency, recruitment agency), positioning the business as an intermediary or an agent. It would almost be fair to say that a translation agency is simply a letterbox between the translator and customer.And it’s the seriousness and credibility of the translation company which are at stake.
Recruitment agencies offer vacant positions to professionals.
Art agents negotiate contracts and manage a schedule.
Estate agents arrange the selling, renting or management of properties.J
No agent is involved in a production process.
Translation companies play a completely different role.
In a translation company, translations are “produced”.
Professional translators and proof-readers, working in-house, translate and proofread translations which are delivered to customers. The translation company is responsible for the quality of the translation.
Translation companies, unlike translation agencies, manage (translation) projects:
multi-lingual projects, team management, DTP and page layout using software available on the market, management and passing on of translation memories, creation of graphics, writing, printing, implementation of interpreting equipment, and so on.
Translation companies employ professionals with the technical ability to understand customer needs, produce translations and offer services which go above and beyond simple translation.
CG Traduction & Interpretation