Translation management software is leveraged by freelance translators and language service providers (LSPs) to organize translation and localization projects. Translation management solutions are often referred to as translation project management, though many tools provide more than just project management functionality. Translation management systems span the entire lifecycle of a translation text; from inputting the source text to distributing the finished target text, these products serve as a central translation hub for organizations to track and collaborate on translations.
Many translation management tools also provide built-in machine translation software and computer-assisted translation software features. These all-in-one solutions allow translators and translation services providers to plan and execute projects from a single solution. In this same vein, some translation management tools also provide features like billing and invoicing, client portals and client management, and resource management. Another important ability is to provide machine translation tools to make the translation process much more efficient. Some translation management vendors will also provide professional translators as a service for clients with translation needs who aren’t LSPs themselves.
Some translation management tools may refer to themselves as language operations (LangOps) platforms. LangOps is a holistic way of approaching localization strategy. LangOps platforms focus on how the outcomes of translation projects impact the business, providing robust performance and reporting features, visibility on each step of the translation process, strict control over machine translation engines, and the ability to customize translation workflows.
Software localization tools can also provide many of the same project management features and translation tools as translation management but are specific to the localization of backend code for websites, apps, and video games. Similarly, some website translation tools can provide some of the same features, but these tools are concerned with the continuous translation of frontend web content.
To qualify for inclusion in the Translation Management category, a product must:
- Allow users to create custom workflows for translation projects
- Automate translation processes
- Centralize multilingual content
- Provide tools for translators, project managers, and other employees to communicate and collaborate
- Analyze translation quality and effectiveness
