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1、TranslationTechnology Insights20232|RWSTranslation Technology Insights 2023ContentsLooking back,looking forward.3An industry under pressure:the growing skills shortage.6An industry under pressure:work demands intensify.9Relieving the pressure:the dual role of technology.17How to move forward.24Refle
2、ctions.353|RWSTranslation Technology Insights 2023Looking back,looking forwardBack in 2016 we published our first Translation Technology Insights(TTI)survey report,exploring the role of technology within the translation industry and how it might shape the future of the industry.Seven years later,we
3、return with our third TTI report(the second having been published early in 2020).This gives us an opportunity to look back a little to see how more than half a decade has changed adoption of,or attitudes towards,some key technologies.And to look at the current trends that matter as the industry move
4、s forward.As before,this report is informed both by our most recent survey conducted late in 2022 and by continual discussions with industry stakeholders about the state of the industry,its challenges and progress,its past and future.Survey scopeWe invited thousands of translation industry professio
5、nals to complete an online survey,shared it with industry analysts and promoted it via social channels and ProZ.com.Wed like to thank the 2,076 respondents from 108 countries who took the time to complete the survey.2,076 respondentsEurope 55%Americas 17%Rest of world 4%APAC 24%4|RWSTranslation Tech
6、nology Insights 2023Three groups of translation professionalsAny translation professional was welcome to take the survey,not just translators.Respondents could be translation project managers,translation business owners or team leaders,translation technology or QA specialists,or others within the tr
7、anslation supply chain.Based on who they work for,we can divide them into:Freelancers:individual translators or contractors Language service providers(LSPs):those from a translation agency Corporates:those in a translation-related role in any other organization in the private,public or non-profit se
8、ctorSize and capabilities of LSPsA quarter(24%)of the LSPs represented by the respondents have just 1-5 employees,with a strong majority(71%)having 50 or fewer.Most of them translate to or from more than one language,with three-quarters(75%)describing themselves as a multi-language vendor and 8%as a
9、 regional language vendor.Respondent groupsCorporate 20%LSP 10%Freelance 70%LSP size by employees1-524%71%6-1015%11-2015%21-5017%51-10010%101-5006%More than 500 9%Dont know4%Single-language vendorRegional-language vendorMulti-language vendorLSP capabilities17%8%75%5|RWSTranslation Technology Insight
10、s 2023Key role of freelancersWe know that a key reason that LSPs are able to stay lean while serving diverse language needs is that they use freelancers.Less than a quarter(22%)of the freelance respondents say they mostly work directly with end clients,while 38%work with a mix of LSPs and end client
11、s and a full 40%work mostly only through LSPs.Size and level of outsourcing for corporate translation teamsSince translation is not the core business of corporates,their translation departments tend to be smaller than LSPs.More than half of the corporate teams(58%)have just 1-5 employees and the vas
12、t majority(89%)have 50 or fewer.Unsurprisingly,we see more regular outsourcing of translation work among the smallest teams those with 1-10 employees than the rest (41%vs 28%),although size seems to make no difference to the proportion that typically handle all translation in-house(26%).Corporate tr
13、anslation team size by employees1-558%89%6-1015%11-2010%21-506%More than 50 6%Dont know5%38%41%28%36%33%46%26%26%26%Corporate teams outsourcing translationTotal1-10 employees10 employeesRegularly Sometimes NeverMix of clients for freelancersMostly LSPs 40%Both LSPs and end clients 38%Mostly end clie
14、nts 22%6|RWSTranslation Technology Insights 2023An industry under pressure:the growing skills shortageA downward shift in experienceIn all three of our TTI surveys,the respondents have been an experienced group,with the majority having spent more than 10 years in the industry.But this year,we can se
15、e a downward shift in overall experience,or a relatively greater number of inexperienced respondents:In 2020,64%had more than 10 years of experience and 81%more than 5 years.In 2023,54%have more than 10 years of experience and 70%more than 5 years.Its important to note that despite this drop,we stil
16、l have a very experienced group.But the drop is striking not just for its size,but because its at the most experienced end(10+years of experience).At the other end of experience,we see that:In 2020,5%had fewer than 2 years of experience and 19%fewer than 5 years.In 2023,13%have fewer than 2 years of
17、 experience and 30%fewer than 5 years.Here the largest increases are at the least experienced end,with a threefold increase in the less than 1 year group and more than double in the 1-2 year group.More than 10 years 5-10 years 4-5 years 3-4 years 2-3 years 1-2 years Less than a year20202023Years in
18、the industry64%54%17%16%5%4%5%2%3%6%5%6%7%6%81%70%14%17%5%13%7|RWSTranslation Technology Insights 2023New entrants,retirees or something else?We dont believe that the shift in experience can be explained primarily by a significant growth in the number of new professionals entering the industry.First
19、ly,wed need a much larger influx of new entrants to create a 10%drop in the top tier,and that would also have the knock-on effect of creating a relative drop in the proportions of every other tier as well.Thats not what we see in the data.Secondly,those who know the industry well are uniformly telli
20、ng us that the supply of translation professionals is not keeping up with demand.We know without a doubt that the industry is growing in terms of revenue,and its probably also growing in terms of new entrants,though reliable numbers are hard to come by.But the sense is that,even assuming that new en
21、trants are outnumbering those leaving and retiring,the industry is not growing nearly quickly enough to keep up with demand.We can think of two plausible reasons for the downward shift in experience that we see(and it could be a combination of both).One is that this year we promoted the survey to a
22、wider audience than before,which might simply have reached a relatively less experienced demographic.The other is that the generation that created the localization industry in the 1980s is starting to retire.While translators and interpreters have existed for millennia,as a formal industry with dedi
23、cated businesses and supply chains were a much more recent thing.Weve not,until now,reached the point where the most experienced people are retiring in large numbers to date theyve just been getting more and more experienced(confirmed by adding the 2016 data to the picture).Again,we dont have any nu
24、mbers to assess this definitively,although in the ProZ.com 2022 industry report,37%reported knowing friends or colleagues who had left the industry in the past couple of years.If this is the first time were seeing significant numbers of retirees in addition to the usual industry churn,it would expla
25、in a larger-than-usual drop exclusively at the most experienced end.This effect should disappear over time,as the number of retirees becomes a more-or-less constant proportion of the whole.18%14%17%76%81%70%6%5%13%Years in the industry2016100%0%2-5 yearsMore than 5 yearsLess than 2 years202020238|RW
26、STranslation Technology Insights 2023Growing skills shortageIf the pool of available translation professionals is becoming relatively less experienced right now,and the industry isnt recruiting enough people to meet growing demand,the result is a growing skills shortage.This certainly will resonate
27、with certain parts of the industry,such as those involved in media localization.Whether the shortage is a result of inadequate pay,poor work/life balance,lack of educational opportunities or other reasons,for now its the reality that we face.For this third edition of the TTI,then,well be considering
28、 the results of the survey against the context of the industrys growing skills shortage.What can the data tell us about how the industry is attempting to lessen the impact of the shortage,and what else should we be doing?Since this is a survey about the impact of translation technology,naturally the
29、 focus is on the role that technology is playing or could play to mitigate the situation.As well see,the data shows that mature use of translation technology makes those who use it more efficient,and we believe it also makes the industry more attractive to new entrants.This means we need to address
30、the factors mainly time and budget that are holding some back from making more effective use of the available tech.Technology vendors have an important role to play.They could be helping to build the business case for investing time and money in smarter ways of working,and as well also see they shou
31、ld be providing the support and training that technology users want.“While talk of a talent shortage in the language industry is nothing new,it appears to have reached a boiling point.”The 2022 Nimdzi 1009|RWSTranslation Technology Insights 2023An industry under pressure:work demands intensifyIncrea
32、sing requirementsIn 2020,the TTI revealed an industry under pressure from increasingly mature customers,many of whom wanted to translate a wider range of content,for different channels,using new file types,in more languages.This was before the COVID-19 pandemic,which did have a small overall negativ
33、e impact on the industry,although the experience of different freelancers and LSPs did vary greatly.In fact,just over 30%of the respondents to the ProZ.com 2022 industry report saw an increase in demand for their services that they believed was attributable to the pandemic.Our own experience,as one
34、of the worlds largest LSPs,was that overall demand continued to grow during the pandemic,although the distribution of work between different sectors changed significantly.In 2023,we see the same pressures as in 2020 intensified.Especially for freelancers.The table below shows the proportion of each
35、group that has seen an increase in a range of work requirements in the past 12 months.As in 2020,large minorities of corporates and LSPs are experiencing an increase in most areas,which is how the overall pressure adds up.Now were starting to see the same in the freelance group as well,notably for t
36、he three key indicators of demand highlighted.In 2020,around a quarter of freelancers had experienced an increase in these three factors;this time its closer to one-third.Every other requirement has also seen a rise in the proportion of freelancers experiencing an increase(almost all of them rising
37、by a good 4-5 percentage points).Number of project files Number of customers requesting work Number of words per project(project size)Amount of outsourcing needed to complete a projectNumber of target languages requestedVariety of file types Demand for reporting Variety/types of source content50%25%
38、2020 202343%36%25%48%45%31%48%45%31%31%31%37%38%37%31%28%37%21%24%32%26%29%28%13%27%21%15%Increases experienced in a yearIncrease experienced in project files in a yearCorporateLSPFreelanceCorporateLSPFreelance29%30%13%10|RWSTranslation Technology Insights 2023Volume up for everyoneAcross the three
39、groups,the most marked rise in work demands is seen in the proportion of respondents reporting an increase in project files.A quarter more LSPs and freelancers have seen an increase in this measure than in 2020.For both corporates and LSPs,if the trend continues were not far from seeing half of them
40、 experience an increase in project volume.Combined with a(smaller)upward trend in increasing project size,it confirms if we needed any confirmation that the industry is facing continually growing demand.To complete the picture,we can add in telemetry showing the total number of words being translate
41、d through the industrys most-used CAT tool,Trados Studio,which grew by 4%from 2021(221bn words)to 2022(229.5bn words).Cost,speed,quality:where does the pressure lie?Overall,translation professionals remain under more pressure to reduce their prices and deliver their work faster,than to improve the q
42、uality of their work.Corporates are the only partial exception,since theyre under greater pressure to deliver quality than to reduce cost.Still,speed is by far the greatest issue for corporates,while for LSPs and freelancers,its cost.2021 221bn words2022 229.5bn wordsTrados StudioWhich of the follow
43、ing do you feel under the most pressure to deliver?CorporateLSPFreelanceTotalCheaper translationsFaster delivery of translationsHigher quality translationsIve not felt under pressure for any of these reasons37%32%20%11%14%14%44%28%16%51%7%26%42%29%18%11%11|RWSTranslation Technology Insights 2023As w
44、e noted last time,this doesnt mean that quality is less important than cost and speed.In fact,we see the continuing importance of quality if we look at the factors that would drive the respondents towards adopting new translation software in the next 12 months.The top driver is maintaining/improving
45、 quality(49%),ahead of improving translation and business processes(43%)which would address the cost and speed of delivery and the more general objectives of managing increasing demand(38%)and improving customer satisfaction(31%).Maintain/improve translation qualityImprove translation and business p
46、rocessesBetter manage increasing demand for translationsImprove customer satisfactionNew types of software available on the market(e.g.cloud-based CAT tools)Budget constraints needing to switch to lower cost alternatives in the marketBetter manage a growing translation workforceDont knowOther49%43%3
47、8%31%27%19%13%12%4%Factors driving the adoption of translation software in the next 12 months12|RWSTranslation Technology Insights 2023The reason that translation professionals feel more pressure to deliver against cost and speed expectations,despite the importance of quality,is that customers take
48、a good baseline of quality for granted when they work with experienced professionals.So they tend to put pressure on their translation providers to produce the quality they expect more quickly,cost-effectively,or both.Mostly,customers dont even engage with their translators on quality,as we see from
49、 the fact that only 39%of the respondents always or often receive constructive feedback from work-givers regarding the quality of their work.This rises to 49%for LSPs,who are more likely to insist on formal feedback processes.But most translators know that their customers rely on them to be on top o
50、f quality,only engaging with them about it if something goes horribly wrong.How often do you receive constructive feedback about quality?Always Often Rarely NeverLSP5%2%44%49%Freelance5%3%34%58%Total4%34%57%Corporate30%58%7%5%5%13|RWSTranslation Technology Insights 2023Do you measure quality in the
51、translations you do/buy?Yes No Dont know/not sure0-5 years5+years61%59%18%18%23%21%Total59%19%21%Which of the following do you feel under the most pressure to deliver?0-5 years5+yearsCheaper translations Faster delivery of translations Higher quality translations Ive not felt under pressure for any
52、of these reasons30%32%32%15%13%39%Total32%20%11%37%31%7%With translators knowing that customers expect a good level of quality from them,we see a clear correlation between experience and the pressure to produce quality,with the most experienced respondents(5+years)feeling considerably less pressure(
53、15%)than those with less than five years in the industry(31%).Both groups make an equal effort to measure quality(61%of the less experienced and 59%of the more experienced).14|RWSTranslation Technology Insights 2023Do you/your organization need to improve your ways of working to meet your challenges
54、?Yes definitely 26%Dont know 10%No 17%Room to improveUnder this sustained pressure,almost three-quarters of translation professionals continue to feel that they need to improve their ways of working to meet their challenges.Theres no change from last time in the overall proportion saying that yes,th
55、ey do need to change(73%),but whereas previously one-fifth(21%)were in the definitely camp,this is now up to one-quarter(26%).LSPs(85%)and corporates(82%)feel the need to improve much more acutely than freelancers(69%).If we look at this question through the lens of experience we also see a small di
56、fference,with 78%of the less experienced feeling the need to improve,vs.71%of the more experienced.Yes probably 47%Yes,improvement is neededProbablyDefinitelyCorporate47%82%35%LSP53%85%32%Freelance46%69%23%0-5 years49%78%29%5+years46%71%25%Total73%47%26%15|RWSTranslation Technology Insights 2023Rank
57、 1 CombinedWhat could stop you?Is anything holding the respondents back from making the changes they need to make?We presented those who do see the need to improve with a series of potential constraints and asked them to pick their top three.Looking at the top constraint only,lack of time(34%)and la
58、ck of budget(33%)are the clear leaders.Looking at all three choices combined,lack of budget(64%)is top,with lack of time(56%)and limited resources(56%)clear of the rest.What could prevent you from evolving your translation process and investing in more sophisticated ways of working?Lack of timeLack
59、of budgetLimited resourcesLack of knowledge around the translation software availableLack of knowledge on how to get startedDifficulty building a strong business case/realising ROIUncertainty caused by external factors (e.g.political,economic)OtherDont know56%64%56%40%26%23%25%3%2%34%33%11%8%4%4%3%1
60、%2%16|RWSTranslation Technology Insights 2023What to do about it?The obvious way to overcome a budget constraint,at least for LSPs and corporates,is to make a strong business case for the investment thats needed(whether in technology,people,training or anything else).Curiously,building a strong busi
61、ness case barely features as a top constraint,suggesting perhaps that the respondents feel they know how to justify the investment they need.But if this were true,lack of budget should not feature as such a prominent constraint.Many,if not most,businesses will respond to a really strong business cas
62、e for improvement,if those asking for the budget really know how to show the value of such an investment.So its more likely that weve uncovered something of a hidden problem for translation professionals one that theyre not sufficiently aware of as an issue to address.Technology vendors should be ab
63、le to assist with this issue of building the business case at least for investment in technology and the associated changes in ways of working.Its always worth asking a vendor to help you prove that the technology you want to invest in will pay for itself.Lack of time is one of those frustrating iss
64、ues that needs to be addressed by taking the long view and refusing to be distracted by immediate challenges.With huge pressure to deliver,of course there never seems to be a good opportunity to take the time to make lasting improvements.But finding this time is the only way to get out of the time t
65、rap and step up to more efficient ways of working that will relieve the time pressure for good.Whether its time for training,to investigate technology or process change,or to hire new people,its time that simply must be found.The issue of limited resources is naturally closely related to a lack of t
66、ime and budget,especially the latter.If you need new people,service providers,technology or other resources,your business case should make the case for them.Of course,if its people you need and the industry is experiencing a skills shortage,youll be competing for a scarce resource and will want your
67、 organization to be as attractive as possible to the talent thats available.17|RWSTranslation Technology Insights 2023Relieving the pressure:the dual role of technologyDoing more with less effortFaced with a skills shortage,its natural to think of the potential of technology to make the most of the
68、skills available.Computer-assisted translation(CAT),machine translation(MT)powered by artificial intelligence(AI),translation management systems(TMSs),connectors and other items in the translation toolkit are all designed to:Streamline or automate time-consuming tasks Leverage existing data across a
69、ll translation work Minimize the risks of human error and forgetfulness Improve visibility and control of workBy doing so they improve efficiency,quality and consistency enabling translation professionals to do more with their time and effort.Attracting new talentTranslation technology can help to a
70、ddress the skills shortage in another way as well.Young people considering their careers today have grown up in a digital age and want to feel that their industry is at the cutting edge.They want to work in an agile,dynamic environment that uses automation and AI,that makes it easy to work from anyw
71、here and creates collaborative work communities even when people are physically distant from one another.This doesnt mean they want to work remotely by default in fact,the majority are more likely to want the best of both worlds:the flexibility to work remotely,with the opportunity to spend time wit
72、h others at work.What Gen Z needs from leaders right nowIn this anatomy of work special report,Asana notes that:Gen Z are fans of one particular change:hybrid work.Gen Z are particularly sensitive to the impact of legacy systems and highly value modern technology.68%of Gen Z prefer hybrid working18|
73、RWSTranslation Technology Insights 2023On the face of it,the translation industry has a head start in this regard,with a healthy mix of freelance and office-based work(within LSPs and corporates)to cater to any need.And,as the ProZ.com report notes,the barrier to entry is relatively low.The localiza
74、tion industry has also been technology-centric since its start.CAT tools and TMSs have been developing for decades and have made major moves to the cloud.MT and other forms of linguistic AI are among the most exciting areas of AI development.But as positive as this might seem,the survey suggests tha
75、t theres a danger of stagnation,which would risk us falling behind other rapidly advancing sectors in attracting new talent.We see this when we take a closer look at the use of technology within the industry.19|RWSTranslation Technology Insights 2023Technology penetrationThe CAT tool is the oldest o
76、f the key translation technology types and looks to have settled for now at somewhere between 80 and 85%(higher for LSPs,lower for corporates).We see a slight decrease in use from 86%in 2016 to 83%in 2020 and 81%today for no obvious reason.It might be that the very concept of a CAT tool is declining
77、,with an increase in use of platforms that provide access to a range of translation and project management capabilities although we dont see an equivalent increase in the use of collaboration tools or TMSs.Indeed,when we look at technology types apart from CAT,penetration remains relatively low,espe
78、cially among freelancers and corporates.Even among LSPs who have always been the most technologically advanced of the three groups no technology type is close to seeing the same type of penetration as CAT.Computer-assisted translation(CAT)Machine translation(MT)Terminology management Collaboration t
79、ools that allow users to share translation assetsTranslation apps(plug-ins that extend functionality)Translation management system(TMS)Software localization toolsTranslation business management(incl.billing/invoicing)softwareIntegrations and connectors to content repositoriesOtherNone of the above75
80、%50%25%2016 2020 202381%69%90%83%49%51%54%68%43%48%56%67%25%22%35%24%19%21%49%14%17%17%38%13%16%8%51%14%5%10%18%2%2%2%2%2%6%6%2%6%TotalUse of technology in the translation industry todayUse of MTCorporateLSPFreelanceCorporateLSPFreelanceTotal40%41%63%37%54%39%39%41%50%40%65%43%68%51%49%20|RWSTransla
81、tion Technology Insights 2023Furthermore,the only type of technology use that has seen sustained growth is MT,with growth initially driven by LSPs but latterly with freelancers and especially corporates showing increased interest.This shows that its potential as a productivity tool is being recogniz
82、ed and accepted,both to translate content that previously wouldnt have been translated by businesses at all,or to speed up the translation of some content through machine translation post-editing(MTPE).Another factor contributing to increased adoption of MT is no doubt the fact that its now integrat
83、ed into most CAT tools and TMSs by default.So while we do see an industry with technology at its heart,the picture that emerges isnt one of a completely smooth trend of increasing sophistication in technology use.Its a more nuanced,complex picture that shows an industry with some way to go to make t
84、he most of the tools available.Translation maturityThis picture is reinforced if we look at translation maturity.We asked the LSPs and corporates to rate their approach to translation on a scale based on the Localization Maturity Model(LLM)developed by CSA Research.Since this scale was developed mai
85、nly with translation buyers in mind and focuses on organizational processes for managing translation,we created a simpler scale for the freelancers:focused on their translation tasks and the extent to which they use technology to enhance their productivity.Overall we see a mature industry,but not un
86、iversally so,with corporates in particular lagging behind.Corporate LSPTranslation maturity*UndevelopedLess maturity:53%More maturity:47%Less maturity:28%More maturity:72%ReactiveRepeatableManagedOptimizedTransparent5%14%9%34%19%19%18%18%17%24%14%9%*Respondents were given full definitions for each s
87、tage.For example:Repeatable=my organisation is starting to formalize processes for core localization tasks and recognizes that someone needs to be in charge Managed=our translation teams now push consistent use of basic processes while working with external suppliers to meet growing demand21|RWSFree
88、lanceTranslation maturityNo translation software used to assist with translationLess maturity:26%More maturity:74%Started using translation software,but only at a basic levelUse translation software relatively often and use a number of productivity featuresAlways use translation software and use a w
89、ide range of features,tools and/or apps6%20%30%44%Translation Technology Insights 202322|RWSTranslation Technology Insights 2023Maturity and attitudes towards technology useThe survey shows clearly that for those with greater translation maturity,technology plays a significant role in helping them m
90、eet the pressures theyre facing.They feel that translation software helps them to work faster(79%)and more cost-effectively(71%),while improving quality(72%).This is despite not finding translation software particularly easy to use(only 46%choosing the easy to use option).I/we can get translation ta
91、sks done faster with the help of translation softwareI/we enjoy using technology to help with work in generalTranslation software helps improve the overall quality of translationsTranslation software helps me/us to work more cost-effectivelyI/we find translation software easy to useI/we have been di
92、rected towards using this type of software to help with workOtherNo particular opinions79%73%72%71%46%27%2%1%What opinions do you have on your use of translation software?23|RWSTranslation Technology Insights 2023This is all encouraging for the industry as a whole,because these are minority percepti
93、ons that can be addressed to keep the industry advancing in efficiency and becoming more attractive to new entrants.Translation technology vendors should be able to step up to offer more training(more on this later),improve the user experience or demonstrate that their software is already easier to
94、use than people might think and help to build the business case for technology investment.As evidenced by the majority who have greater translation maturity,the translation industry has the ingredients to be attractive in a digital age.But we cant be complacent not with demand growing faster than su
95、pply.And when it comes to making the most of the available technology,theres still considerable scope for greater use of it.For those with less translation maturity,theres a spread of reasons for why theyre not embracing the technology that could help them,with no single reason even close to a major
96、ity.Around a third(30%)say theres not enough training available,and a fifth find the technology too expensive(21%)or too difficult to use(20%).A quarter(24%)have no particular opinion on their use of translation software at all.There is not enough training available on the translation softwareNone i
97、n particularTranslation software is too expensive and not worth the moneyI/we find translation software difficult to useI am/we are not sure where to start with finding the software neededOtherI am/we are quite technology averse in generalI/we stopped using translation software after struggling with
98、 it in the pastI/we dont see the benefit of technology in general30%24%21%20%14%12%8%7%3%What opinions do you have on your use of translation software?24|RWSTranslation Technology Insights 2023How to move forwardContinuing investment in translation technologyAs already discussed(page 14),almost thre
99、e-quarters of the respondents say that they do need to improve their ways of working to meet their challenges,with a quarter in the definitely camp.LSPs and corporates feel the need to improve more acutely than freelancers,as do the less experienced relative to the more experienced.If we look at thi
100、s question through the lens of maturity,we also see that those with less translation maturity recognize the need to improve more strongly than those with more translation maturity.Improvement is needed to ways of workingProbably DefinitelyTotalLess maturity82%More maturity70%73%47%26%45%37%48%22%25|
101、RWSWill investment in translation technology play a role?One third of all of the respondents(33%)expect to see an increase in translation software investment in the next 12 months,with LSPs more likely than the average(38%).And encouragingly we see that those with less experience and translation mat
102、urity are more likely to be seeing increased investment in technology than those with more experience and translation maturity.Investment in translation software in next 12 monthsSignificant increaseSlight increaseCorporateTotal0-5 yearsLess maturity7%9%11%12%32%33%43%39%25%24%32%27%LSP5+yearsMore m
103、aturityFreelance7%8%8%10%38%30%31%33%31%22%23%23%Translation Technology Insights 2023Nevertheless,with only a minority expecting to increase their investment in translation software in the next 12 months,it seems that most of those who think they could do with improving their ways of working arent p
104、lanning to act immediately,or are planning changes that dont require an increased investment in technology.For LSPs and corporates this may include growing their team,but given the skills shortage its perhaps more likely to involve improving their processes,either by making better use of their exist
105、ing technology or by other means.26|RWSTranslation Technology Insights 2023Which technologies might attract investment?We asked the respondents to choose up to three categories of translation software from those theyre not already using as their likely next step in their maturity journey.In this lis
106、t of priorities,CAT is the top choice for both corporates and freelancers(chosen by 45%of both groups not already using it),while for LSPs its collaboration tools(chosen by 54%of those not already using these tools).Compared with the 2020 survey:Machine translation is less important for LSPs (it was
107、 no.1,now no.4 for them)and more important for corporates(moving from no.5 to no.3).This is in line with what weve already seen about the take-up of MT(page 19).CAT has risen in prominence generally:from no.4 to no.2 for LSPs,no.3 to no.1 for corporates,and no.2 to no.1 for freelancers.Its the numbe
108、r 1 choice for both the less and the more experienced respondents not yet using it(47%vs 43%),so this isnt simply a matter of a less experienced group wanting to invest in the most common productivity tool.Collaboration is more important for freelancers(having moved from no.5 to no.3 for them),sugge
109、sting that this could be an important way for them to cope with the pressures theyre facing.Anecdotally,were hearing from freelancers that theyre starting to work together almost as small LSPs,to serve their clients more effectively.Overall,were not seeing any big intentions to take up the lesser us
110、ed technologies,reinforcing the picture of an industry in danger of stagnating unless something is done.Top three choices for next step in translation maturity journeyLSP Collaboration tools(54%)CAT(48%)Terminology management(39%)Corporate CAT(45%)Terminology management(42%)Machine translation(37%)F
111、reelance CAT(45%)Terminology management(39%)Collaboration tools(29%)27|RWSTranslation Technology Insights 2023More training and support,pleaseOne of the clearest messages emerging from the survey is that translation professionals want more training and support to improve the way they work.Weve alrea
112、dy seen(page 23)that the main factor affecting technology use for those with less translation maturity is a lack of available training,cited by 30%of them.Training and support are also top factors of importance when looking to purchase translation software from a vendor.Out of eight factors asked ab
113、out,the degree of support offered is considered the most important,with training third.In 2020,support was second(behind trust,which is second this time),and only 25%found it absolutely crucial,compared with 35%this time.Training has risen from fifth to third in order of importance.So we can clearly
114、 see an overall picture of a growing need for help within the industry.Degree of support offered by a vendorHow much you trust a vendorDegree of training offered by a vendorLevel of use by translation professionalsVendor reputationScalability of translation softwareVendors time in existence/continui
115、tyAbility to meet face-to-face with a vendor5%5%25%41%24%10%7%27%38%18%6%8%34%36%16%75%74%69%65%65%56%52%22%Factors when considering a vendors translation softwareDont know Not important at all Quite important Very important Absolutely crucial30%4%3%19%44%28%42%23%4%3%4%2%19%40%35%24%4%3%43%26%6%40%
116、32%15%7%28|RWSTranslation Technology Insights 2023We also asked specifically whether the respondents get(and have had in the past)the right amount of training and support for their needs,and half of them(49%)say they want more.This is a big increase from three years ago,when it was 39%who felt they
117、werent getting enough training.As we might expect,an even greater proportion of the less experienced(55%)want more training and support.Asked what translation software vendors can do to help them tackle their challenges,a similar overall percentage want them to provide greater levels of product supp
118、ort(50%)and more or better training(46%).These come second and third to make the technology easier to use(68%),which completes the picture of an industry in need of help to do better.Remember that even among those with more translation maturity,only 46%said they find translation software easy to use
119、(page 22).Its also notable that very few(just 7%)are looking for new features or software,suggesting an industry that realises that there are plenty of sophisticated software options available;the challenge is to know how to use them effectively.We see this also in the fact that the only vendor acti
120、on showing no difference between those with less and more experience or translation maturity is make technology easier to use.Whatever their level of translation experience or maturity,more than two-thirds just want it to be easier for them to do what they need to do with the available tools.What ca
121、n translation software vendors do to help you tackle your challenges?Make technology easier to useOffer greater levels of product supportProvide more/better trainingHelp me understand what products would best suit my needsProvide more face-to-face time with support/salesDeliver new features/software
122、OtherDont know68%50%46%35%22%7%6%6%Amount of training/support received for translation softwareI wish that more training/support was available usually its not enoughI get access to roughly the right amount of training/supportThere is too much training/support available more than I actually needDont
123、know49%35%6%10%29|RWSTranslation Technology Insights 2023Best way to learn?We asked what sources of learning are the most useful,and videos come out on top,followed by internet articles and webinars.Freelancers prefer articles considerably more than webinars,while its vice versa for LSPs.Its also no
124、table that face-to-face training is considerably less popular than remote training.All of this suggests that technology vendors have an array of options for meeting the training and support needs of their customers.Watching videosArticles on the internetAttending webinarsRemote training/teachingLear
125、ning communities or forumsFace-to-face training/teachingTextbooksWhite papers/journalsOther No sources are more useful than others75%71%81%75%61%59%55%53%50%52%55%60%46%48%46%46%27%38%34%23%21%18%11%21%18%19%19%17%3%2%4%2%2%2%1%2%TotalMost helpful sources of learningCorporateLSPFreelance46%49%48%44%
126、30|RWSTranslation Technology Insights 2023The tipping point for cloud-based working?The survey confirms one notable technology trend that is important for an industry that needs to be more productive and efficient with its available talent and attract new talent.This is the move towards using cloud-
127、based solutions,which are available for just about any translation task or purpose,including centralized sharing of assets across the translation supply chain,managing projects through the process,providing visibility of progress and performance,translation by humans or MT,reviewing and editing tran
128、slations and performing quality assurance.Cloud-based working as many organizations discovered during the COVID-19 pandemic is key to helping teams collaborate effectively at a distance.While its possible to put collaborative solutions in place without using public or enterprise cloud solutions,clou
129、d solutions are much easier and quicker to deploy than on-premises solutions and dont require the same level of up-front investment or ongoing IT management resource.Since we know(page 15)that time and budget are the key factors holding translation professionals back from evolving to more sophistica
130、ted ways of working,the speed of cloud adoption and its lower total cost of ownership should make it attractive all else being equal.Security risksRisks of downtimeRisk of others accessing translations/filesLoss of dataCompliance/regulatory concernsLack of functionality compared to desktop toolsDiff
131、iculty integrating with systems already in placeOtherThere are no concerns57%63%55%56%54%49%38%41%50%48%51%45%34%42%34%32%33%25%34%35%27%30%41%25%6%4%4%7%6%7%5%6%TotalConcerns about translation software on cloud-based platformsCorporateLSPFreelance40%32%38%43%31|RWSTranslation Technology Insights 20
132、23But is all else equal or do translation professionals and teams still have concerns about cloud-based working?The survey reveals that they do,with the most prominent issue being security.More than half(57%)still cite this as a concern,with corporates(63%)by far the most concerned.The most pressing
133、 concerns,including security,are down significantly since 2020,perhaps a sign that individuals and businesses are realizing that cloud services can easily be more secure than on-premises equivalents,or at least as secure.The only concern that has grown is integration,which has increased for all thre
134、e groups,but is noticeably more of a concern overall for LSPs.This makes sense,since as the middle man between corporate clients and freelancers,LSPs have the most to gain from integrated workflows and the biggest challenges to face from a lack of integration.Balanced against these concerns,we see a
135、 continuing increase in confidence with cloud-based working.The COVID-19 pandemic which saw a significant rise in the level of remote working may have accelerated this trend,since when we trace sentiment back to 2016,we see a sharper rise in confidence between 2020 and 2023 than between 2016 and 202
136、0.For example,asked whether they agree or disagree with the statement I am/would be fine using the cloud to deal with confidential files,the proportion agreeing rose by about a quarter from 2016(26%)to 2020(33%),then even more sharply from 2020(33%)to 2023(46%).The level of agreement with the statem
137、ent Cloud-based tools are as productive as(or more productive than)desktop-based tools rose about half as sharply from 2016 to 2020 as it did from 2020 to 2023(from 35%to 39%to 48%).I am/would be fine using the cloud to deal with confidential filesCloud-based tools are as productive as (or more prod
138、uctive than)desktop-based toolsStatistically significant changes in cloud concernsLevel of agreement with statements about cloud-based workingSecurity risksRisks of downtimeRisk of others accessing translations/filesDifficulty integrating with systems already in place64%26%33%39%46%48%55%35%23%56%48
139、%49%27%57%2020201670%50%20%25%20232023202032|RWSTranslation Technology Insights 2023When we combine this picture with the fact that those expressing security concerns are down to 57%and all other concerns are below 50%,we seem to be approaching a tipping point where the majority would be broadly hap
140、py with cloud-based working.We see this also in our own experience as a translation technology vendor selling both on-premises and cloud-based solutions for collaboration and translation management.The use of these solutions going to cloud has grown steadily since 2017,and accelerated sharply in the
141、 past few years.Overall,those expressing confidence in cloud-based working are rising rapidly towards and over the 50%mark,with between 46%and 51%agreeing that cloud-based tools are productive,perform well,and are suitable for storing translation resources and dealing with confidential files.The fle
142、xibility afforded by cloud-based solutions is even more obvious,with 60%acknowledging this benefit.Cloud-based solutions allow for much greater flexibility when doing translation workI am happy to store my translation resources in the cloudCloud-based tools are as productive as(or more productive th
143、an)desktop-based toolsCloud-based tools are able to perform as well as offline toolsI am/would be fine using the cloud to deal with confidential filesCloud-based tools are easier to learn and start using60%71%72%55%49%51%55%58%45%48%57%55%46%43%57%45%42%45%49%40%TotalState of play in 2023(level of a
144、greement)CorporateLSPFreelance47%53%50%44%21%23%27%35%54%66%79%77%73%65%46%34%Cloud growth relative to on-premises2017100%0%CloudOn-premises20021202233|RWSTranslation Technology Insights 2023Impact of COVID-19 on remote workingWith its high employment of freelancers,the translation indust
145、ry has always made extensive use of remote working.But even among freelancers it has never been universal and 100%remote working is rare.Presumably a fair number of freelance translators prefer to spend at least some of their time in shared/coworking premises,or theres a fair proportion of LSPs that
146、 prefer freelancers to work at their premises.For some translation work requiring particular levels of security,on-site working is common.As in other industries,the translation industry has seen a big increase in remote working since 2020,and the survey confirms this(note that our 2020 report pre-da
147、ted the lockdowns caused by the pandemic).We see that considerably more people are working remotely,and those working remotely are spending more of their time doing so.This trend has no doubt made organizations that were formerly hesitant about cloud-based working reconsider their position.In 2020,2
148、8%spent none of their time working remotely.In 2023,its only 16%a 43%decrease meaning that 84%are spending at least some time working remotely.In 2020,the average proportion of time spent working remotely was 38%.In 2023,its 59%a 55%increase.Both freelancers and LSPs spend on average more than 60%of
149、 their time working remotely,while for corporates its 50%.41%61%26%50%35%62%38%59%Average time spent working remotely70%25%2020Total2023CorporateLSPFreelance34|RWSTranslation Technology Insights 2023Flexibility is keyDespite growing confidence with cloud-based working and reducing concerns,the trans
150、lation industry is far from ready to commit entirely to the cloud.Interest in cloud-only working has just about doubled since 2020(from 8%to 15%),and theres a sharp drop in those who prefer working only on-premises(from 31%to 19%),but by far the most popular option remains hybrid working using a com
151、bination of cloud and on-premises solutions.This way,translation professionals can take advantage of the many benefits of cloud-based working without sacrificing the control they want,particularly if they perceive that an online option isnt yet as sophisticated as the desktop application theyre used
152、 to using.Its increasingly common,for example,for translation teams to combine the advantages of a cloud-based TMS with the sophistication of a desktop CAT tool.A combination of cloud-based and on-premisesOn-premisesCloud-basedDont know54%53%63%53%21%19%17%8%13%15%19%21%TotalPreferred option if buyi
153、ng translation software todayCorporateLSPFreelance12%11%8%13%31%19%8%15%50%0%20202023On-premisesCloud-basedChange in preferences35|RWSTranslation Technology Insights 2023Online buyers want to understandThe RWS Unlocked 2023 Report which surveyed 6,500 users of ecommerce sites in 13 markets around th
154、e world tells brands unambiguously how important it is to speak to potential customers in their own languages.It found,for example,that:say that its important to them to be able to deal with companies online in their own languagesay the dominance of the English language online frustrates themsay bra
155、nds with a localized online experience are more trustworthy than those withoutAs brands become increasingly aware of these kinds of findings,its natural for them to look to translate more content into more languages,spurring the continued growth of the translation industry.ReflectionsThe market size
156、 of the language services industry is notoriously hard to nail down,both because translation by in-house teams is largely invisible,and because large LSPs outsource to smaller ones(and all LSPs outsource to freelancers),so simply trying to add up revenue tends to double-or triple-count some of it.Wh
157、en analysts take different approaches to handling these issues,we can see very different results:According to Slator,the global language services and technology industry grew to an addressable market size of USD 26.6bn in 2021,an increase of 11.75%over 2020 and a strong recovery after a small(1.75%)
158、decrease in 2020.Slators estimated year-on-year growth for 2022 was between 2.5%and 7.5%.Nimdzis estimate for the language services industry in 2021 is USD 60.5bn,though they note that a good figure for addressable market size would be 60%of this(i.e.,36.3bn).This marked a 10%increase over 2020 and
159、they expected it to grow by almost 7%in 2022.Despite widely different market size estimates from these two and others,everyone agrees that this is an industry with decades of growth and no end in sight,thanks to the continuing growth of drivers such as globalization,ecommerce and regulatory requirem
160、ents.89%44%71%Translation Technology Insights 2023So even once were over the hump of a larger-than-usual exodus of talent due to retirement,the translation industry faces a growing skills shortage unless we can attract new entrants at a much faster rate.To do so and to cope with growing demand in th
161、e meantime the industry needs to work smarter,not harder.We believe the ingredients to do so are available.There are maturity models to guide the journeys of translation teams towards greater efficiency and effectiveness.Machine translation continues to improve in leaps and bounds,freeing human tran
162、slators for the kind of work that MT isnt suited for.Collaboration tools,translation management systems and their integration capabilities offer increasing levels of workflow automation and visibility across the translation supply chain,not to mention the flexibility of cloud-based options.Flexible
163、working is becoming easier and more secure than ever before.Theres no indication that translation professionals are clamouring for new software or features that dont yet exist.But their take-up of the technologies that can make the biggest differences going forward is in danger of stagnating.Under i
164、ncreasing pressure to deliver great quality faster and more cost-effectively,theyre struggling to find the time and budget to improve their ways of working.Technology vendors should be able to facilitate industry advancement,not only by continuing to make their solutions easier to use,but by finding
165、 better ways to offer training and support,and by helping to build the business case for investment in technology-enabled improvement.Naturally,we are one of these translation technology vendors,and we stand ready to help.One of the reasons we started this survey seven years ago,and continue to cond
166、uct it regularly,is that we want to understand what the industry needs,so that we can work to deliver solutions that fit.If you or your business would like advice on your next steps or help to get going,please get in touch.Find us at trados-translation-tech-insights-2023-whitepaper-rws-en-a4260123Ab
167、out RWSRWS Holdings plc is a unique,world-leading provider of technology-enabled language,content and intellectual property services.Through content transformation and multilingual data analysis,our unique combination of technology and cultural expertise helps our clients to grow by ensuring they ar
168、e understood anywhere,in any language.Our purpose is unlocking global understanding.By combining cultural understanding,client understanding and technical understanding,our services and technology assist our clients to acquire and retain customers,deliver engaging user experiences,maintain complianc
169、e and gain actionable insights into their data and content.We work with over 80%of the worlds top 100 brands,more than three-quarters of Fortunes 20 Most Admired Companies and almost all of the top pharmaceutical companies,investment banks,law firms and patent filers.Our client base spans Europe,Asi
170、a Pacific and North and South America.Our 65+global locations across five continents service clients in the automotive,chemical,financial,legal,medical,pharmaceutical,technology and telecommunications sectors.Founded in 1958,RWS is headquartered in the UK and publicly listed on AIM,the London Stock Exchange regulated market(RWS.L).For further information,please visit: 2023 All rights reserved.Information contained herein is deemed confidential and the proprietary information of RWS Group*.*RWS Group shall mean RWS Holdings plc for and on behalf of its affiliates and subsidiaries.