FAQs

The International Standards Organization (ISO), based in Geneva, Switzerland, is an independent, non-governmental international organization with a membership of 165 national standards bodies.

ISO has developed over 23,874 market-relevant International Standards supporting innovation and providing solutions to global challenges.

Working to meet the requirements within ISO standards can help companies achieve consistent results and continually improve their business processes through a commitment to quality and good business practices.

Certification to an ISO standard by an independent body offers confidence that the company has developed, maintains, and continuously improves its core business processes in line with international standards requirements.

ISO 9001:2015 is the world’s best-known quality management standard for organizations of any size, with a focus on meeting customer expectations and delivering customer satisfaction.

ISO 17100:2015 provides requirements for the core processes, resources, and other aspects necessary for the delivery of a quality translation service that meets applicable specifications.

Interpro has developed an Integrated Management System that has been certified as meeting the requirements of the following ISO standards:

• ISO 9001:2015        Quality Management Systems
• ISO 17100:2015      Translation Services

The benefits achieved through the application of these standards in our business include:

• consistent quality
• increased efficiency
• improved customer satisfaction
• engaged employees
• reduced risks
• continuous improvement of all business functions

By attaining – and maintaining – ISO certifications, Interpro is demonstrating our commitment to:

1. continually improving our processes
2. building our understanding of how effective we are at meeting our customer’s needs and expectations
3. building effective relationships with our partners
4. monitoring our performance and the quality of service provided
5. increasing customer confidence in our service and in our team.

Being certified to ISO 9001 and 17100 and maintaining those certifications positions Interpro to successfully deliver real quality to our clients, and to best serve our interested parties for many years to come.

• Download our ISO 9001:2015 certificate
• Download our ISO 17100:2015 certificate

We generally deliver completed projects via our web-based portal, which notifies you via e-mail that your project is available to be downloaded. Where practical and on request, we can also e mail translated files or place them on a hosted (FTP) site. We rarely mail or FedEx content these days, but we can of course do so upon request.

Unless otherwise specified, we deliver translated content in the same file format as the source material. There can be exceptions where translations are delivered in additional columns of tables or spreadsheets, and these are specified on a project-by-project basis at or prior to project launch. We can generally deliver in any file format that is convenient to you.

Desktop published (formatted) documents will be delivered in their native file format and, unless otherwise specified, as a low-resolution Adobe Acrobat PDF file.

Regardless of the physical method of delivery, all Interpro projects are executed and delivered in accordance with ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 17100:2015 standards to ensure quality, continuous improvement, and client satisfaction.

We would be happy to provide you with a sample translation to demonstrate to you the quality of our work and process. We usually request that the sample not exceed 250 words per language, although samples containing up to 500 words may be acceptable depending on the situation.

We have never experienced a security breach since starting operations in March, 1995. We have non-disclosure agreements in place with our employees and our partners, and are happy to review and agree to the terms of your NDA, should you have one. We act as though an NDA is in place, whether it is or not.

Yes. A project such as this would normally be undertaken on a time and materials basis, the total amount of time and cost being dependant on the volume and the quality of the translation being revised.

Interpro may be able to estimate the cost of translating from data we extract from a live website. Caveats are:

• We may miss some content.
• We may include content that is not relevant because it is duplicated (for example, previous versions of page(s)) in the site’s structure, but is not part of the current site and should not be translated.
• Database-driven content is almost impossible to estimate from a live site – content that is held once in the database may populate the live site many times, and this is especially true when considering product data on an eCommerce site.

It is always more accurate to provide quotations from the web content source files, and any figures that we provide from a live website will - at best - be an estimate to be confirmed once we have the actual source files.

Minimum charges are something that we like to avoid as much as possible. For clients providing a consistent stream of work, we generally waive any minimum fees. For clients who simply cannot avoid sending content on a piecemeal basis to be translated, we will make recommendations for “bundling” translation requests so that minimum charges can be avoided. When minimum charges are unavoidable, they can range from one to several hours at an hourly rate determined by the service(s) and/or language(s) being requested, plus a project management fee.

Firstly, Interpro makes every attempt to minimize the possibility that any issue is found in the translations we deliver to our clients. In accordance with ISO standards 9001:2015 and 17100:2015, should a non-conformity occur, it is analyzed to determine its root cause(s), followed by implementation of a corrective action plan. The objective is to ensure that the non-conformity does not repeat, and to provide continuous process improvement.

For each language, a senior translator/reviser who was not involved in the translation and with expertise in the subject field area performs the final Quality Assurance task and gives his/her stamp of approval over the final localized/translated product. The person in charge of QA is responsible for making sure that the translation is free of errors, mistranslations, and that it adheres to any glossary approved by the client and/or to the existing terminology in case of updates.

Specific emphasis is placed on verifying - at a minimum - the following items:

• untranslated text
• spelling mistakes
• grammatical mistakes
• incorrect terminology
• inconsistent terminology
• mistranslations
• punctuation errors
• unit of measure conversion (when required by client)
• incorrect date/time format

All of our work carries a guarantee of workmanship:

Interpro warrants that any services or work effort provided to our clients shall be performed on a timely basis and in a good and workmanlike manner. Interpro further warrants that any deliverable made available to our clients shall conform to each project's requirements.

Should our clients find any inaccuracies, incorrect translations or recordings, errors, or other deficiencies in the work developed by Interpro, we will immediately rectify those errors and deficiencies introduced by our company as a result of the localization and translation processes at no additional cost to our clients.

Interpro does not charge for quotations.

Interpro does not currently offer a solution that incorporates machine translation (MT). One of Interpro’s senior employees worked for a company that developed MT software and that also operated a translation services agency using MT technology. We therefore understand MT, how it should be used, and when it can be an effective tool in accelerating productivity and reducing overall costs.

MT is useful primarily when translating content written using controlled English in order to make creation of the system’s electronic dictionary more streamlined, and to minimize the potential for “confusing” the software with ambiguous structures. Short sentences with basic subject+verb constructions work very well and can yield excellent results.

However, MT systems require a great deal of up-front “training” and detailed linguistic information may also need to be entered into the system’s electronic dictionary.

Interpro – as do most translation companies – processes a wide variety of content types coming from widely dissimilar subject areas. Spending the up-front time required to properly train an MT system is simply a luxury that we - and our clients - do not have. Additionally, even if clients were not concerned about the up-front preparatory time (which is almost never the case), the costs involved in training the MT system could very well eliminate any potential gains in productivity and consequently in the overall per word costs that most businesses are looking for when deploying MT.

Interpro considers that at this time, MT is best suited to ad hoc rudimentary translations of content in a language that is foreign to the user so that the user gains some understanding of that content (so called “good enough” translation). At this time, MT is not suitable for translations that are to be used for external (client) consumption, and although it can provide a rough translation, the effort to clean it up is usually more than the effort a professional translator would put in to translate conventionally, using translation memory tools.

As much notice that is available to you! The more notice we have, the better we can plan and allocate resources. We also appreciate that there are times when you may have little or no advance notice and we will do our best to accommodate you!

We generally do not charge rush fees. Interpro appreciates as much notice as possible that an urgent job is imminent, and will plan accordingly.

Translation should generally take place in the target country to ensure that the translation follows current linguistic trends and will be well accepted by its audience. Interpro’s team of experienced, professional translators, revisers, and proofreaders provide worldwide coverage, no matter the language.

Certification to an ISO standard by an independent body offers confidence that the company has developed, maintains, and continuously improves its core business processes in line with international standards requirements.

ISO 9001:2015 is the world’s best-known quality management standard for organizations of any size, with a focus on meeting customer expectations and delivering customer satisfaction.

ISO 17100:2015 provides requirements for the core processes, resources, and other aspects necessary for the delivery of a quality translation service that meets applicable specifications.

Interpro was awarded the above ISO certifications on June 25, 2021, demonstrating our deep commitment to total quality.

To ensure that specific terminology is developed and used consistently, Interpro recommends that glossaries are developed for those projects that require them for each language prior to beginning the actual translation. Once the glossaries have been completed, the client has the option to review them with sources within its own company, or through overseas affiliates or distributors. Interpro will work with the client's contacts to ensure that the glossaries are approved to the client's satisfaction.

All projects are assigned to native speakers of the target language with experience in translation and in the topic of the text. They use industry-standard foreign language spell-checkers and are provided with each client's approved glossary, enabling them to provide highly accurate translations.

All translations are then proofread and corrected by another native target-language translator. Once this process has been completed, all translations are then reviewed by the project reviser to ensure consistency and accuracy throughout the translated content.

A final linguistic QA of all translated components is then executed prior to delivery.

Additionally, web content and user interfaces typically undergo post-translation quality assurance once they are built, but prior to going live.

Interpro’s use of Translation Memory tools helps ensure that translations are consistent and correct.

Project duration depends mostly on the number of words to be translated. As a general rule, a translator translates 1500 – 2000 words per day, and larger projects will be assigned to multiple translators. Desktop publishing and graphics localization efforts would require additional time.

Minimum turnaround is typically 2 business days.

Interpro can usually allocate sufficient resources to meet your delivery requirements.

Interpro invoices projects with a 30 day duration or less upon project completion. For larger projects, Interpro typically invoices on a bi-weekly basis throughout the project duration. Interpro appreciates that payments are made within 30 days from our invoice date.

Translation cost depends mostly on the number of words to be translated and, to a lesser extent, the language that you are translating into.

Projects that include user interfaces or web content may require some engineering effort, although this is usually a minor cost element. If those projects contain graphics with translatable text, they may also require a graphics localization effort.

Projects that include user interfaces may require a quality assurance of the completed product either by our clients or by Interpro, usually in conjunction with our clients. Interpro quotes QA services based on our examination of your source material and a discussion on methodology, and are charged on an hourly basis.

Projects that include web content may also require QA of the completed web content, which is charged on an hourly basis.

Projects that include formatted content such as manuals, documentation and brochures may require multilingual desktop publishing and graphics localization, the cost of which depends on the complexity of the content and the number of graphics requiring localization. These costs are based on our analysis of your source material and are charged on an hourly basis.

Turnaround time depends on the complexity of the localization project. We provide a quotation for most projects within 24 hours of receiving your source materials. Complex projects that include extensive user interfaces or web content may take longer.

We are able to translate practically any file type imaginable. Some of the most common files that we work with are authored in Adobe applications (e.g., InDesign, Flash, Illustrator, PhotoShop, FrameMaker, Acrobat, RoboHelp, Articulate, Captivate, PageMaker), in Microsoft applications (e.g., Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Access, Visio), as well as Quark, QuarkXpress, Survey Monkey, MadCap Flare, Camtasia, and AuthorIt, to name a few. We also work with most web-based file formats (e.g., html, asp, php), graphical image files (e.g., gif, jpg, bmp, png, tif, eps), user interface resource files (e.g., *.rc, *.resx, *.properties, *.xib), as well as compiled DLLs and EXEs.

It’s not possible to list every file type that we can work with, so if you don’t see yours listed here, please contact us, and we’ll work with you to get us what we need. It’s more likely than not that we are able to work with whatever file types you need translated.

Yes. We are able to work with previously developed Translation Memories, provided the quality of the translated segments is satisfactory. Interpro continuously invests in advanced translation tools necessary to ensure terminology and style consistency, to achieve volume and revision efficiencies, and to leverage legacy materials.

All client Translation Memories developed as a result of providing foreign language translation services remain the property of each client, and are available upon request. Also, we don’t share memories between clients unless authorized to do so by the owner, which usually occurs only between affiliates.

The types of content that we regularly work with include: marketing translation, legal translation, eLearning program translation, mobile application translation, help localization, multimedia translation, multilingual voiceover recording, multilingual video, software localization, website localization, web application translation, documentation translation, user manual translation, training material translation, and technical translation. We have a diverse client base which includes application software developers, manufacturing companies, service industries, not-for-profit organizations, and educational institutions.

File transfers are best handled through our on-line portal, which helps to manage the entire translation process. We would be happy to create secure credentials for you to access this portal. Where practical and feasible (due to file size restrictions), files can also be e-mailed or uploaded to a secure FTP site. Please contact us, and we’ll determine the most expedient way for you to get us your files for quotation and translation.

It is best if we can have a complete set of source files to work with. Source files allow us to access all of the content that needs to be translated, in the format and layout the translations need to be delivered. It is possible to estimate a translation project without having source files, however no quotation is considered final until we receive source files for review and analysis, assuming that you have access to these files.

Some of the most common files that we work with are authored in Adobe applications (e.g., InDesign, Flash, Illustrator, PhotoShop, FrameMaker, Acrobat, RoboHelp, Articulate, Captivate, PageMaker), in Microsoft applications (e.g., Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Access, Visio), as well as Quark, QuarkXpress, Survey Monkey, MadCap Flare, Camtasia, and AuthorIt, to name a few. We also work with most web-based file formats (e.g., html, asp, php), graphical image files (e.g., gif, jpg, bmp, png, tif, eps), user interface resource files (e.g., *.rc, *.resx, *.properties, *.xib), as well as compiled DLLs and EXEs.

It’s not possible to list every file type that we can work with, so if you don’t see yours listed here, please contact us, and we’ll work with you to get us what we need. It’s more likely than not that we are able to work with whatever file types you need translated.

Yes. We are a multiple language/multiple platform translation provider. Our project managers deal with multiple language requirements for almost every translation project. Translations are undertaken by our in-country translation teams and multiple languages are therefore translated simultaneously.

Interpro has the resources and experience to offer foreign language translation services into virtually any existing modern language. Languages which we work with on a continuous basis include: Arabic, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Maori, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese (Brazilian and European), Russian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish (Latin American and European), Swedish, Traditional Chinese, and Vietnamese. We also provide translation services from the above languages into English.