In China, linguistic diversity is rapidly increasing. With over 300 languages and dialects spoken across the country, the need for multilingual communication is becoming more pressing. Major cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, as well as regions with significant ethnic diversity, like Xinjiang, are seeing a rise in language barriers in everyday interactions and business operations.
For companies that primarily operate in Chinese, multilingual interpretation services are essential to overcoming these language barriers and ensuring effective communication with all customers. However, on-site interpretation services can be cumbersome, incomplete, and costly.
This is where telephone interpretation services come into play. By leveraging telephone interpretation technology, businesses can instantly and easily communicate with clients or prospects, regardless of language or platform. Whether it’s via phone calls, chat, video calls, or email, telephone interpreters ensure smooth communication.
Why Choose Telephone Interpretation Services?
- Expert linguists proficient in your client’s languages
- 24/7 availability
- Cost-effective
- Certified for special needs, such as HIPAA-compliant medical interpretation
- Reliable translation partners that keep up with the growing diversity of your business
If you're considering using telephone interpretation services for your business, here are 5 tips to help you find the best fit:
1. Look for Localized Expertise
Telephone interpretation services offer access to a broader range of languages compared to on-site interpreters, as they can tap into a global network of linguists. These interpreters are often based in their native countries, offering in-depth knowledge of local dialects, cultures, and regional nuances.
In contrast, on-site interpreters usually provide services for the most common languages like Mandarin and Cantonese. For less widely spoken languages, finding specialized interpreters can be a challenge.
Tip: When choosing a telephone interpretation provider, make sure they can provide services for at least 250 languages. This may seem more than what you need now, but it will offer you flexibility as your business expands and you cater to more diverse customer bases.
2. Ensure Instant, On-Demand Service
A high-quality telephone interpretation service should be available instantly. Today’s technology ensures that as soon as you or your customer picks up the phone, an interpreter is ready to assist. There’s no waiting for a translation; the service should be real-time.
Tip: When evaluating telephone interpretation services, look for terms like “real-time,” “click-to-call,” and “hosted language IVR.” These are indicators that the service offers quick, ad-hoc support. Try challenging the provider by asking them to interpret a specific term you don’t understand – this can help you assess their proficiency.
3. Prioritize Reliability and Trust
As a brand, you want your customers to trust you. For this, you need to ensure that the telephone interpretation service you choose is reliable. On-site interpreters can face issues like travel delays or language availability problems, leading to missed appointments or unreliable service. Telephone interpretation services, however, offer guaranteed availability and real-time support.
Tip: When selecting a provider, ensure they have high fulfillment rates. This is a good indicator that you won’t have to explain to customers why an interpreter is unavailable at the last minute.
4. Opt for Cost-Effective Pricing
Many on-site interpreters charge by the hour, often with two-hour minimums, and may also require additional compensation for travel. While minimum fees help cover unforeseen costs, they can be inefficient for companies that only need short-term or occasional interpretation services.
In contrast, telephone interpretation services typically offer a per-minute pricing model, which means you only pay for the time you actually need.
Tip: Choose a telephone interpretation service that charges on a per-minute basis with no minimum fees. This ensures that you don’t overpay for short-duration services.
5. Choose a Scalable Solution for Future Needs
As your company grows, particularly if you expand to new markets or customer segments, it can be challenging to maintain an in-house team of multilingual staff. In-house recruitment is often costly, and turnover or unexpected absences can disrupt services.
Tip: To reduce dependence on internal resources, rely on remote interpretation technology. Real-time, AI-powered telephone interpretation services can streamline communication across departments and cut costs associated with hiring multilingual employees. The most advanced solutions can easily scale to support new languages as your business grows.
Are You Ready?
If your business is like many others, you're always striving to improve the way you serve your customers. To communicate with all your clients effectively, you may want to partner with an experienced telephone interpretation provider. The next step is to find a provider who can cover all the languages you need now, while also offering the flexibility to scale as your business expands.
If you're still unsure about making the switch, some providers will let you test their services with a small sample before you commit to anything.
Contact us today to learn more about how telephone interpretation can help you connect with your customers and see the technology in action.
