LATEST ISSUE

August 2024

The Globe-Trotting Journey of Translated 9

For eight months, an 18-member crew from Italian LSP Translated competed in a sailing race around the world using only a sextant and stargazing as guides. Co-skipper Marco Trombetti describes the ups and downs of the voyage, the invaluable lessons learned, and the magnificent experiences the crew had along the way.

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f you’ve been watching this summer’s Paris Olympics, you’ve likely been awe-struck by the incredible physical feats of the athletes. Equally impressive are the stories of determination that led these competitors to reach the pinnacle of their sport. After all, you don’t qualify for the Olympics without a lot of practice and perseverance.

Our cover feature this month is reminiscent of these stories — a sports team that realized its vision through dedication and hard work. Translated CEO Marco Trombetti recounts how he spearheaded an unconventional company effort: compete in a round-the-world sailing race without the aid of modern navigation technology like GPS. After years of preparation followed by eight months at sea, the 18-person crew completed their voyage with a renewed sense of possibility and the confidence to take on any challenge.

Other articles in this issue also reflect the Olympic spirit of determination: language company leaders strive to differentiate their services or adopt AI, winners of LocWorld 51’s Process Innovation Challenge develop creative solutions to tough problems, and an analyst continues to track global website trends over 20 years.

Oh, and did I mention this issue features an insider’s perspective on the Paris Olympics itself? Nathalie Greff-Santamaria, head of Language Services at the Games, delves into how her team provides translation and interpreting in a complex, high-stakes environment — and how she hopes to embody the values of the Olympic motto, “Faster, Higher, Stronger — Together.”

Column

PAST TENSE

Talk Like a Bot

By Ewandro Magalhães

When it comes to adopting AI, Ewandro Magalhães advises a balanced approach: taking it slow to avoid overpromising, but also keeping an open mind to possibilities. He argues that, ultimately, speaking openly about our fears and hopes will help us determine ethical ways to move forward with AI.

PERSPECTIVES

My Journey From Fear to Faith in the AI Era

By Shirley Yeng

In the months after ChatGPT’s release in late 2022, Shirley Yeng often woke up at night worrying about the relevance of her localization business. Here, she tells the story of how she overcame her fear of a changing industry and learned to embrace the promises of AI.

sports

Faster, Higher, Stronger — Together

Language Services at the Olympics

By Nathalie Greff-Santamaria

Translation and interpreting are central to the Olympic and Paralympic Games to facilitate communication among athletes, coaches, spectators, and journalists from around the world. Nathalie Greff-Santamaria, head of Paris 2024 Language Services, delves into the tools and techniques her team employs to provide these much-needed services in a complex, high-stakes environment.

Think Carefully, Then Do It

The Globe-Trotting Journey of Translated 9

Interview by Cameron Rasmusson

For eight months, an 18-member crew from Italian language service provider Translated competed in a sailing race around the world using only a sextant and stargazing as guides. Co-skipper Marco Trombetti describes the ups and downs of the voyage, the invaluable lessons learned, and the magnificent experiences the crew had along the way.

Cultivating an Athlete’s Mindset

in Innovation

Supported by Translated

Courage, teamwork, and step-by-step resilience. Here, Translated’s cofounder Isabelle Andrieu discusses the company’s venture capital firm, Pi Campus.

Tipalti

An LSP-Friendly Payment Partner That Moves at the Speed of Business

Supported by Tipalti

When a company has employees and freelancers scattered across different countries with unique currencies and regulations, it can be challenging to process payments promptly and without error. That’s where Tipalti comes in. With the experience to unite teams across borders, they ensure clients not only meet their financial obligations, but also improve efficiency for their teams and freelancers.

James Jameson

Innovating the Subtitle at International Scale

Supported by LocWorld

Language tech company CaptionHub recently launched new functionality enabling subtitle generation for live video, opening real-time events and presentations worldwide to bigger and more diverse audiences. It’s an impressive achievement that won Chief Commercial Officer James Jameson the top Process Innovation Challenge prize at LocWorld 51 this June.

white paper

CLEAR Global’s Portable Kiosk Brings Critical Information to Marginalized People in Remote Areas

Supported by LocWorld

The device, called TILES (Touch Interface for Language-Enabled Services), not only disseminates information in multiple languages, but also answers user questions through automatic speech recognition technology. The invention earned CLEAR Global second place in LocWorld 51’s Process Innovation Challenge in June 2024.

business

Creating Value for Customers as a Specialized LSP

By Domenico Lombardini

How can a language service provider (LSP) create real value for customers, beyond just tailoring workflow tools or utilizing AI? Domenico Lombardini argues that offering synergistic services in specialized sectors can position an LSP as a go-to resource in the eyes of the customer.

Five Web Globalization Best Practices That Have Stood the Test of Time

Lessons from 20 years of website dos and don’ts

By John Yunker

For 20 years, John Yunker has benchmarked the websites of the leading global brands in the annual Web Globalization Report Card. In this article, he highlights the best practices that resonate as strongly today as they did two decades ago.