Volume 16, No. 1, July 2012

Related Links

The Bulletin

Volume 16, No. 1, July 2012

 

Results from the Translation Bureau Benchmarking and Comparative Analysis

In 2011-2012, the Translation Bureau (the Bureau) carried out a series of initiatives aimed at obtaining feedback from clients, the industry and the Canadian public in order to refine our understanding of our environment and be in a position to make the right choices to equip the organization with solid foundations for the future.

These initiatives included:

  • an on line consultation with the private sector, conducted by Public Works and Government Services Canada's Office of Small and Medium Enterprises in conjunction with the Bureau, whereby information was gathered that will be used to improve the procurement process for language services
  • a webinar for language service providers to discuss current and future challenges and ways of working together to increase the translation industry's capacity
  • a benchmarking and comparative analysis of the Bureau and other organizations providing language services

The purpose of this bulletin is to share the benchmarking and comparative analysis results with you. The analysis was conducted on behalf of the Bureau during the first few months of 2012.

Why should you read the Translation Bureau Benchmarking and Comparative Analysis?

The Translation Bureau Benchmarking and Comparative Analysis helps us to better understand our environment and learn more about the practices of Canadian and international organizations.

The analysis includes information on emerging trends and challenges in our industry. This information is useful, as it allows us to position ourselves for the future.

One of the key themes of the benchmarking and comparative analysis is the insufficient level of investment in technology.

"Our studies and interviews exposed a lack of significant investment in the translation industry. The Bureau has an opportunity to examine the appropriate level of investment in activities that define and measure quality standards, as well as the further refinement of translation tools and technology."

Translation Bureau Benchmarking and Comparative Analysis
Final Report, May 15, 2012, PricewaterhouseCoopers

One of the Bureau's activities for increasing productivity and efficiency is the implementation of a language ecosystem. This ecosystem is based on the integration of technolinguistic tools, including machine translation, into every stage in the process for handling translation requests. The Bureau's language professionals will be equipped with the latest technologies, adapted to their needs, so that they can produce top quality texts for the Government of Canada more quickly and at a lower cost.

Innovations and technological trends benefiting the Canadian public

Over the years, the Bureau has made a number of its tools available on the Internet free of charge to the entire federal public service, its suppliers and the Canadian public so that they may all benefit from it.

The Language Portal of Canada is an excellent example. The Portal, which is popular with students and language professionals, offers everyone a host of language tools, including its flagship product, TERMIUM Plus®, the Government of Canada's terminology and linguistic data bank.

In the next few months, the Bureau will make the Government of Canada's first language related mobile app publicly available. The ourlanguages.gc.ca on the go! app will allow users to consult TERMIUM Plus® on their iPhone or BlackBerry. More to come on this!

Strengthening partnerships with the private sector

Over the next few years, the Bureau will conduct various activities to strengthen its partnerships, including those with the private sector, to ensure that the language industry has the capacity to absorb greater demand.

The Bureau will continue to carry out consultations with key language sector stakeholders and will seek to forge innovative partnerships and alliances with the private sector.

The Bureau will also continue its work with Public Works and Government Services Canada's Acquisitions Branch on developing a national language service procurement strategy aimed at ensuring a consistent, standardized government wide approach to acquiring language services.

Lastly, over the next two years, the Bureau will seek to streamline its contracting procedures.

As the benchmarking and comparative analysis reminds us, Canada is a leader in the translation market. All of us—freelance translators and interpreters, large translation companies, universities, language associations and the Bureau's language professionals included—help make Canada stand out. We also all share responsibility for its future. The world is going through a major transformation, society is changing, and Canada's language sector must do the same.