In a recent interview on the translation industry’s evolution and the role of technology, MultiLingual’s staff team had the opportunity to hear the insights of Peter Reynolds on the matter, the co-CEO of memoQ; a conversation so interesting that we lost track of time. With nearly three decades of experience, his perspective provides a powerful and important approach to the transformation and future of localization.
For the past 25 to 30 years, the translation industry has seen significant technological advancements. One of the first pure localization companies, Soft France, later became part of Lionbridge, and innovations like the XLIF standard and adaptive generative translation (AGT) emerged. AGT, utilizing large language models (LLMs), has improved translation accuracy and efficiency by integrating with memoQ’s resources, demonstrating the power of combining AI with human expertise.
Peter shared strategic moves that defined memoQ’s success like its entry into the German market around 2008-2009. Competing with industry giants like Trados, memoQ’s compatibility with both Trados Workbench and Trados Studio helped it secure major clients such as Deutsche Post. This versatility established memoQ as a formidable player in the localization sector.
Customer feedback has been instrumental in shaping memoQ’s development. Through an ideas portal, clients suggest features and improvements, fostering a collaborative environment that has led to practical solutions commented in detail in the interview, like the in-country review process. This streamlines the approval of translations within enterprises, showcasing the importance of user-driven innovation.
Looking ahead, the integration of AI into translation workflows is set to revolutionize the industry further. While AI enhances efficiency and accuracy, the human element remains crucial for specialized and high-stakes translations. This balance between technology and human expertise is the future of translation, moving from seeing technology as a threat to embracing it as an invaluable tool.
The upcoming memoQ Fest promises to bring together some of the most knowledgeable and engaging professionals in the industry. It’s a celebration of technology, collaboration, and the collective drive to push the boundaries of what’s possible in localization.
For more insights and to hear the full conversation, listen to this great interview with Peter Reynolds on MultiLingual. Keep track of how technology and innovation continue to shape the dynamic world of translation and localization.
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