Everything else is ready. You’re just waiting for the translation.
In the traditional model, translation occurs after the original documents are signed off for translation, it is done by a single person, and it’s followed by a careful review. If you start translation before the documents are final, change management is an issue. If it’s done by several translators, consistency is less than ideal. If there is no review, there is nobody to fine-tune the translation and resolve translation mistakes. And review cannot start before the translation ends because the reviewer needs the files.
In the traditional model, the translator goes through the text, researches all terminology, and translates each and every sentence one by one.
Using memoQ you can cut a lot of the waiting time. When the translator is working, all reference information is available at her fingertips. Similar sentences and terminology candidates are automatically identified and displayed, repetitive parts of the text and sentences that have been translated before are automatically translated, and potential conflicts can be quickly identified and resolved. Unlike the other frequently used TMS systems, memoQ can even automatically leverage previous translation files that haven’t been aligned, so you can eliminate the time and money traditionally spent on a pre-translation alignment.
If the source text changes, the already translated parts can be automatically inserted using a single command. The magnitude of change can be easily estimated.
If the translator works in a team, consistency does not get hurt. One translator may be able to see what the others have translated and translate in accordance with the others’ suggestions. Only one translator researches terminology - the others can just use it. If you don’t have the time to wait until a single translator translates a long user manual, deploy a memoQ server and have it translated in a fraction of the time by a team of translators.
Translation and review can also happen at the same time on the same set of documents. Reviewers may be able to see what the translators have translated and suggest changes.
Using memoQ, there is no need to stick with the traditional model of translation. Everything can happen simultaneously. It may cost you a little more if you have to pay for translations that don’t get into the final document, but in many cases it’s nothing compared to the opportunity cost of shipping a product only a few days later.