Translation Memory Ownership: Taking TM Back From LSPs
How to own translation memory instead of your LSPs: SOW clauses, TMX handover, and how Smartling imports, ranks and permissions vendor TM in your account.
Every enterprise localization team hits the same inflection point: the questions get harder, the stakes get higher, and AI has changed what's possible and what's expected. This hub brings together the answers Smartling's customers ask most, built for teams who need real answers on quality, security, governance, and cost.
How to own translation memory instead of your LSPs: SOW clauses, TMX handover, and how Smartling imports, ranks and permissions vendor TM in your account.
Health plan translation software should route member documents by risk, keep translation memory plan-owned, support a BAA, and export audit evidence.
No platform is HIPAA certified. What makes PHI translation compliant: a BAA under 45 CFR 164.504(e), minimum necessary, HITRUST. Smartling: since 2013.
Translation platforms connect through connectors, a website proxy, or an API. Smartling lists 50+ integrations, including Google Drive but not SharePoint.
Localization vendors sell three things: a translation platform, translation at several quality tiers, and managed services such as SEO, DTP, and review.
Translation vendors vet translators by acceptance rate, proficiency tests, and ongoing quality scoring. Smartling accepts 5% of applicants to its network.
Translation platforms publish per-word rates, not seat prices. Smartling's Core plan is free to start; minimums and term length are set in the order form.
Translation vendors supply four evaluation artifacts: a product tour, an RFP template, case studies, and a live localized site. What each one proves.
A translation pilot tests a vendor on real content before purchase. Scope it to one content type and 1,000–2,000 words, and score the second round.
Translation platforms publish two coverage numbers: machine and AI reach versus human translation reach. Smartling supports 450+ languages and locales.
Onboarding a translation platform is shared work. The vendor configures; you supply the glossary, style guide, translation memory, and languages.
Tour translation software pairs a TMS, translation memory, and a website proxy to keep travel listings current. See how IHG scaled to 20 languages.
Translating images at scale requires either replacing text within image files or generating localized versions of visual assets. Most enterprise localization platforms handle text-based content well but treat image translation as a separate workflow. Smartling's image translation capability is currently in development. For current image and creative localization needs, Smartling's professional translation network and transcreation workflow handle visual content review.
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