As experts point out, the core competence of translation agencies is not the translation that is delivered by the translator, but project management, vendor management and consulting.
These three core tasks represent clear added value for the customer when they decide to work with an agency. Vendor management and project management are also given a central role by DIN EN ISO 17100 for the requirements of high-quality translation services.
The standard determines the necessary qualifications for internal and external employees. For example, translators should have a university degree in the field of translation or, alternatively, a university degree in another field if they have two years of professional translation experience or five years of full-time professional translation experience. The qualifications of the translators must be documented and verifiable for customers and auditors at all times.
Agencies should conclude contracts with their translators that clarify the general conditions of freelance cooperation and the duty of confidentiality. Translators should receive an order for each project, which clearly presents all the details of the project as well as an exact description of the service and expected quality, even if they are preferred translators and are familiar with the customer and the products.
