The quality and security of your translation and interpretation services can make or break your brand’s reputation and impact your goals.
So, a key question for buyers when choosing a language services provider (LSP) is: how can you be sure they will represent your brand accurately and professionally in another language while complying with relevant regulations?
There’s a lot riding on that question! And the short answer is that choosing an LSP with relevant industry certifications can provide you with assurance to move forward confidently.
Let’s explore those certifications and why they are important.
What Are Language Industry Certifications?
Certifications are issued by independent, accredited certification bodies after thorough evaluations and audits of the LSP’s processes to confirm that they conform with specific standards and best practices. The various standards described by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) are just one example of certifications that an LSP could obtain. Other types of certifications are also available, for example HITRUST for information security.
ISO is a global organization that determines best practices for various processes and publishes them as standards for companies to follow. A company can claim to be compliant by simply following these standards, but they can’t claim to be certified to ISO standards without passing a stringent audit by an accredited certification body. Certifications for other types of standards work similarly.
Because certifications are only issued after the LSP has passed a third-party audit of their systems, they indicate that an LSP adheres to rigorous standards of quality, data security, and regulatory compliance.
Why Should You Care About Certifications?
Understanding them and knowing which ones to seek out can help you make the best choice for your language service needs. Here’s why they matter:
Shows a Commitment to Quality and Standards
When you select a Language Service Provider (LSP) certified to standards like ISO and HITRUST, you’re making a choice that supports quality and adherence to stringent industry standards. These certifications demonstrate a proven commitment to excellence, and they demonstrate that the LSP in question has invested time and resources into proving that commitment, giving you confidence in your choice of provider.
Allows You to Access Qualified Personnel and Standardized Processes
Certified LSPs hire highly qualified personnel, standardize their processes, and consistently deliver optimal service. This means your project requirements will be met precisely and delivered on time, every time. Whether it's legal, medical, or brand-related content, certified providers make sure translations are consistently accurate and that every interpreting session is handled appropriately.
Ensures Effective Risk Mitigation and Data Security
With so much at stake, opting for a certified LSP helps you avoid risks associated with poor-quality language services, such as brand damage and regulatory issues. Security-related certifications also provide confidence that the provider follows best practices for data security and regulatory compliance. If your business deals with sensitive information or operates in a heavily regulated industry, these practices are vital to protect against data breaches and comply with relevant regulations.
Gains Confidence and Trust
By partnering with a certified LSP, you benefit from reduced risks, enhanced quality, and improved reliability. As a result, you can focus on your core business activities, confident that your language service needs are in expert hands.
Major Certifications in the Space
Certifications for language solutions providers differ from those that individual translators or interpreters often hold. While individual certifications focus on personal qualifications, LSP certifications guarantee that the entire organization adheres to rigorous standards. We will focus on organization-wide certifications here.
Let’s demystify the key certifications used in the language services industry.
- ISO 17100: International standard for translation services
This certification sets requirements for the core processes, resources, and qualifications necessary to provide high-quality translation services. It makes sure that LSPs employ qualified linguists, follow effective translation processes, and implement stringent quality control measures. - ISO 18587: Post-editing of machine translation output
Machine translation has many advantages, but post-editing from a human linguist is necessary to guarantee accuracy and quality. This certification assures you that your LSP understands the competencies and qualifications required for post-editing machine translation outputs and can provide high-quality results even when machine translation is used. - ISO 9001: Quality management system
ISO 9001 certification demonstrates that an LSP has a comprehensive quality management system in place. This promotes consistent service delivery and a strong focus on customer satisfaction through continuous improvement. - ISO 27001: Information security management
This certification is critical for LSPs handling sensitive information. It demonstrates a commitment to data security, protecting client data, and managing information security risks effectively. As the number of data breaches continues to rise (up 78% from 2022 in the US alone), it’s never been more important to that sensitive data is protected in all situations, including translation and interpretation. - FedRAMP (Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program)
This certification ensures that cloud-based services used by the US Federal government meet stringent security standards for handling sensitive information. It is crucial for LSPs providing interpretation services to federal agencies to have this certification. - HITRUST (Healthcare)
HITRUST certification is essential for LSPs working in the healthcare sector. It validates the processes for safeguarding sensitive health information, ensuring compliance with the highest standards of data protection. This certification helps healthcare providers and organizations handling personal health information trust that their data is managed securely and in compliance with regulatory requirements. - ISO 13485: Medical Devices
Being certified to ISO 13485 standards verifies adherence to quality management systems specific to medical devices. This certification highlights compliance with regulatory requirements and understanding of the life sciences industry's unique challenges. All of this is crucial to avoid errors that can cause harm to patients.
Understanding these certifications helps you select an LSP that meets the highest industry standards so that your translations and interpretations are accurate, secure, and professionally managed. It’s easy enough to check that your vendor has these, and by partnering with a certified provider, you mitigate risks and ensure that your global communication needs are handled with the utmost professionalism.
ULG's Certifications and Our Commitment to Excellence
At United Language Group (ULG), we’re dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of quality and security. Our certifications and continuous improvement processes (driven by client feedback) help us exceed industry standards, offering you reliable, high-quality, and secure language services.
ULG is certified to the following standards:
- ISO 9001:2015 (Quality management system)
This certification confirms our comprehensive quality management system. It means you receive consistent service delivery and a strong focus on customer satisfaction. - ISO 17100:2015 (Translation quality)
By meeting this standard, we guarantee that our translation services uphold the highest quality levels. Your projects benefit from accurate and professional translations, which helps your brand build trust with diverse audiences. - ISO 13485:2016 (Medical device translation)
For medical device companies, this certification demonstrates our ability to meet stringent regulatory requirements. - ISO 27001:2013 (Information security)
This certification proves our commitment to protecting your data with strong measures against security risks. - HITRUST
HITRUST certification validates our processes for safeguarding sensitive health information, so you can rest assured that our processes comply with the highest standards of data protection. - FedRAMP
Our cloud-based interpreting contact center platform is FedRAMP compliant for worry-free security and compliance.
With these certifications, you don’t have to “just take our word for it” when it comes to quality. Third-party auditors have thoroughly scrutinized our workflows, systems and procedures to verify that we’re following best practices, and they will continue to do so as part of keeping these certifications current.
Why Do I Need a Certified Language Services Provider?
Uncertified LSPs are a risk. You’re trusting them with the reputation and security of your business without being able to verify that they’re worthy of that trust.
On the other hand, LSPs whose management systems and processes are certified can help mitigate risks, ensure data protection, and deliver high-quality language services that align with your specific industry requirements. This is particularly important in sectors like healthcare and life sciences, where accuracy and compliance are non-negotiable, but even in less regulated sectors, translation and interpretation errors can damage consumer trust and cause legal issues.
ULG’s certifications demonstrate a commitment to quality, security, and regulatory compliance, backed up by third party audits.
For you, this translates to peace of mind, knowing that your translation and localization needs are handled with the utmost professionalism and care and that the work will be accurate and secure. Our certified procedures ensure the best possible results every time, allowing you to focus on your core business. Contact us today to get started.
