Any translation company can tell you that translating survey responses is a common occurrence and that budgetary constraints are often a consideration when undertaking this type of work. Because most survey projects have thousands of responses in many languages, the highest level of service (translator and independent editor) may not fit within the customer's budget. However, that does not mean that there is no solution that will meet the needs of the customer.
The most important thing for a buyer to consider when translating survey responses is the specific outcome you are trying to achieve. Are these responses going to be published? Are they going to only be viewed internally? Are they strictly for research/knowledge purposes? Regardless, it is important to consider and communicate what you are looking for with your translation provider. They can then match the level of service that fits both your needs and budget.
Translating survey responses brings to light a very important topic in the translation industry – levels of service. Read on for the four most common levels of service you can expect to see.
1. Translation and independent editing
Typically the highest or “best” level of service that a provider will offer. It utilizes a human translator and human editor, both with similar qualifications. There are minimum requirements that a translator must possess under the ISO 17100 standard (which Argo carries).
2. Translation and self-editing
This is a slightly lower level of service, but still a viable option. It would rank as “good” in terms of accuracy. Rather than having two linguists working on the survey responses, the translator will edit their own work. This is a good option for budget-conscious customers, as it will still outperform any machine translation.
3. Human Linguist + AI
(also known as machine translation post-editing, per ISO 18587:2017)
This level of service offers a cost-effective balance between speed and quality. The survey responses are first translated by an AI engine, and then a professional linguist reviews and edits the output. This ensures the final content is clear, complete, and aligned with the original intent. It's a solid choice when you need accurate results on a budget. While it may not match the polish of translation and independent editing, it often provides sufficient quality for business use at a lower cost.
4. AI translation
This option provides maximum speed and scalability for large volumes of survey data. In this workflow, content is translated by a secure AI engine without human involvement. It’s best suited for high-volume, low-risk content. Although the output may not be perfect, it offers a quick and cost-efficient way to get the gist of multilingual feedback. If certain responses stand out or need clarification, you can always selectively escalate them to a linguist for further review.
Know what you’re getting
It is also important to note that, as the list of levels of service descends, typically the price drops as well. It is incredibly important to know what level of service you are receiving from your provider, as it is directly correlated to the price of translating your survey responses. This becomes especially important when comparing providers.
Another very important point to consider when buying translation is transparency. When you as a buyer review the translation quote or proposal from the supplier, do you know exactly what you are getting for your money? Does it list what services you will be receiving, and what those services entail? Knowing what you are getting, and perhaps more importantly what you are not getting, is incredibly important, especially in regard to translation services.
