Key Translation KPIs to Assess Your Translation Project

A comprehensive platform enables the extensive data tracking needed to build an efficient translation project. Effective translation begins with the ability to measure performance. Quantifiable data determine what could be improved vs. what needs adjustments.

Translation KPIs (key performance indicators) will indicate the success of the translation quality, accuracy, management, and the effect on the target audience. Using KPIs to analyze data in the translation process gives companies the power to build efficient and high-quality translation services.

Translation KPI: What to Measure

A translation KPI is a performance indicator that determines how effectively a translation performs. But there are many moving parts in a translation project.

• Did the translated content achieve its objectives?
• Was the budget appropriately allocated?
• How many corrections needed to be made?
• How much revenue was generated?

Asking these questions will determine which KPIs are worth measuring for you. Focusing on too many KPIs will result in a distorted picture of what you are trying to see. Starting small creates a clear image of what is successful versus what needs work. Common translation KPIs include:

Cost per word Percentage of visitor conversion Translation turnaround time Number of new customers acquired in global markets Percentage of content translated correctly the first timeAmount of traffic based on country and languageTranslation error rate pertaining to linguistic and technical aspectsPercentage of market share Translation milestones met Percentage of translation ROI On-time deliveries.

Net promoter score Percentage of content recycled Resolution of errors rate Percentage of assets used Multilingual SEO metrics Customer satisfaction Throughput rate

This list outlines numerous indicators; however, it’s best to narrow down KPIs so as not to overly measure on a project. If you are unsure of where to start, measuring quality, cost, and productivity are great places to start.

• Quality. Measuring quality is one of the most important indicators to assess. Quality translation can be defined as the absence of errors. While errors can always occur, the amount of content that requires corrections should be measured. If only a small percentage needs modifications each time, the process can be considered successful. However, if numerous changes must be made consistently, it may be time to re-evaluate the translation process.
• Cost. KPIs should correlate with internal business goals. If you set a revenue goal, KPIs will display if it was met. For example, a translation KPI can be used to measure sales growth, customer acquisition cost, the number of leads converted, and overall profit. Measuring this data is critical to determining where revenue growth is occurring (or isn’t) and what needs improvement.
• Productivity. Measuring cost and quality translation are arguably the most important KPIs to determine, but so are measuring internal processes to ensure a productive workflow. Poor internal processes affect quality and cost. Measuring productivity KPIs identifies holes in the process and what needs improvement to build a solid workflow.

A robust localization management platform can identify where errors stem from, which KPIs to measure, and how to build a process that works.

Localization Efficiency Index (LEI) and Why You Need It

Measuring KPIs determine the accuracy and efficiency of a translation project. It may be difficult to take action upon determining what should be measured. Bureau Works helps clients identify key areas needing improvement through a unique localization efficiency index (LEI).

This image displays an in-depth look into Bureau Works’ dashboard to show the distribution of changes by language pair. For example, the yellow bar displays 40% of translation changes.

The LEI can identify which percentage of changes were made from fluency and grammar to terminology and repetition. The key measurements identified are the percentage of changed segments and confirmed segments. Why is this important? A well-managed program will have a high level of localization efficiency, but building an effective way to track KPIs contributes to that efficiency. The revolutionary KPI system developed by Bureau Works provides a clear snapshot of how much work is needed to get translations to the consumer.

The number of changes needed determines what alterations are necessary to function better. Fewer changes equal a faster turnaround time with more accurate translations.As discussed above, efficiency is a key element to success. Many companies gloss over analyzing key data points because they lack granularity. Bureau Works provides transparency in the process to receive client input and feedback necessary for quality translations.

Clients get a look into the engine that's driving the project. Much like how a beating heart is the most vital organ in the human body, measuring KPIs is vital to the success of a translation project. The LEI acts as a human heartbeat monitor that monitors and tracks valuable data to ensure localization efficiency. Our revolutionary approach to analyzing KPIs sets Bureau Works apart from other platforms.

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