During the conference, Translation Source will provide valuable information for designing international eLearning strategies that engage learners and support company’s key business needs. We will be focusing on how employers should maximize the advantages of global e-learning and become an integral part of the learning tools used by Fortune 500 companies. Visit us at the Translation Source booth #1713. If you prefer to make an appointment, please contact Jason Pineda at (713) 465-0225 or at  jason.pineda@translation-source.com to schedule a convenient time.

About ASTD: ASTD (American Society for Training & Development) is the world’s largest association dedicated to workplace learning and performance professionals. ASTD’s members come from more than 100 countries and connect locally in more than 128 U.S. chapters and with more than 20 international partners. Members work in thousands of organizations of all sizes, in government, as independent consultants, and suppliers.

 Started in 1943, in recent years ASTD has widened the profession’s focus to link learning and performance to individual and organizational results, and is a sought-after voice on critical public policy issues.

About Translation Source: Translation Source provides industry leading multilingual solutions in all languages. Over the years, we have helped over 500 companies grow revenue, achieve a greater return on investment, and increased efficiencies through the proper localization/translation of their content.

Our integrated team of professional industry consultants, project managers, technical specialists, and linguists help companies to develop an industry-leading solution that is customized to their specific needs.

Welcome to E-Learning month, where successful multinational enterprises depend on effective international e-learning translation processes to transfer know-how.

This month, Translation Source will provide valuable information for designing international e-learning strategies that engage learners and support company’s key business needs. Our blog posts will be focusing on how employers should maximize the advantages of global e-learning and become an integral part of the learning tools used by Fortune 500 companies. Whether or not you have prior experience with eLearning, these blogs will provide you with essential knowledge to implement global eLearning initiatives that get results.

For additional information on our eLearning practice, visit our eLearning translation services page.

 If you would like additional information on this topic or have questions on planning and executing your next translation or multilingual initiative, contact us today for a free 30-minute consultation or call us at (800) 413-7838.

1. Keep up-to-date
All translators interviewed agreed that in this ever-changing field, the most important thing was keeping up-to-date on industry terminology, processes, markets and politics. Continuous updating of specialized glossaries and acronym lists is a must because as Francisco A. Carrion puts it:  “As new technologies emerge, language evolves, and it’s of utmost importance to keep informed and aware, to study industry related news, journals, blogs, etc. to sometimes even propose/create new equivalent terminology.” Our translators’ best tips are to continue using new translation tools and allow integrated use of glossaries and internet resources.  Also, says Francisco, “The Schlumberger Oil Field Review is an amazing publication with the latest news of the industry.”

2. Focus
Specializing in one sector of the market or one specific company can really increase your oil translation success rate since it allows you to learn and become increasingly knowledgeable of particular material. It takes, for instance, a different set of expertise to work on an elearning localization project for HSE global compliance than on the translation of a highly technical RFP. Translating important, complex, and highly technical documents is a huge responsibility and the same effort that was spent on the quality of the original material should apply to its translation. An ineffective translation could lead an oil company to long-term, potentially catastrophic problems later on. The more specific knowledge and expertise you can acquire, the better chance you’ll have of avoiding potential problems and creating an excellent translation.

3. Think Globally, Act Locally
Today’s oil industry stretches across the globe and consequently, in the oil and gas translation business, you may find yourself translating for a market that is totally unknown to you. Translator Elías Sauza says “Translating for a specific target audience can be challenging since many oil translation terms vary from country to country. Research of the specific market is needed in order to be as accurate as possible and the translator needs to take advantage of any available resources targeted to that specific audience.”

4. Research your Terms
Unanimously, the biggest challenge our translators face when presented with an oil translation is deciphering company-specific terminology. Each company develops their own products, processes, and equipment which presents a major hurdle for translators who must find non-documented terms and acronyms created by the client, with no external references. Spending time on research, reference material and glossary creation is key to delivering documents that comply with client’s standards. Some of the best online resources for an oil and gas translation such as The Glossary of the Petroleum Industry, The Schlumberger Oil Field Glossary and Diccionario de Pemex Refinacion can be easily found in blogs and publications such as “36 Essential Translation Resources”.

5. Communicate with Client and Users
Elías Sauza comments: “I believe that the client should always be asked to provide specific references such as glossaries to help the translator be as accurate as possible.” Francisco A. Carrion further promotes open communication with clients, stating: “When working with South American oil and gas companies, dialog and constant communication with the client is very important to be 100% aligned with their requirements.” Oil translation involves many technical complexities, don’t be afraid to go to the client with any doubts about the project. Working together, you’ll be sure to create a highly successful translation.

If you would like additional information on this topic or have questions on planning and executing your next translation or multilingual initiative, contact us today for a free 30-minute consultation or call us at (800) 413-7838.

Photo by Henrik L Andersen

If you know a colleague who would benefit from translation or other language services, please enter your name and contact information together with your colleague’s name and contact information. Winner will be announced on May 3^rd 2012 at Translation Source booth #7561 at the OTC conference in Houston, TX.

To participate and to read Terms and Conditions, please click here.

If you would like to meet us at the OTC, please contact Jason Pineda at (713) 465-0225 or jason.pineda@translation-source.com. We look forward to seeing you at OTC.

1. Embrace diversity
RFP translations are standard practice in many industries and involve much more than just language; there are many practical differences that must be taken into account. Legal and regulatory frameworks, contract law, intellectual property rights, anti-piracy regulation and contractual requirements vary from country to country. Other factors such as cultural, religious, and political differences can pose huge barriers to an effective RFP translation. When dealing with high-profile contracts that are procured and executed with public funds, a high standard of ethics is demanded so knowing the differences you may face will help avoid missteps throughout the process.

2. Plan to localize (i.e. adapt), not to just translate
Localization, which involves the full adaptation of your content, graphics and design, is a critical step in the RFP translation process and its importance is often overlooked.  Many opportunities present themselves during RFP translation and localization such as the creation of an international brand. Plan for localization as part of your business strategy in order to reap the benefits along the way. Seek support from key decision makers and involve in-country players from the start so that you can be as informed as possible about the local market and budget your time, money and resources accordingly. Make sure your document is designed to handle translation; you will need to localize your image library as well as typography. Plan for expansion, a document may expand up to 1/3 upon translation so design tables and graphs for bi-directional language and keep text separate from graphics.

3. Ask About Cultural and Language Expectations
There are many pertinent questions you will need to find answers to in order to effectively localize a Request for Proposal. For starters, you need to understand the purposes behind the RFP as well as the global process that includes the RFP as one of its stages so that they are reflected in the translation. RFP translation and localization is not always easy, the abundance of English terminology, lack of exact equivalents between the source and target languages and adjusting for register, regionalism and style are some of the main challenges you may face at this stage. In order to be as careful and accurate as possible, ask the client to provide you with any pertinent reference material or glossaries they may have at their disposal. Request on-going feedback from your in-country resources; optimal communication with clients is a key factor in an effective RFP translation.

If you would like additional information on this topic or have questions on planning and executing your next translation or multilingual initiative, contact us today for a free 30-minute consultation or call us at (800) 413-7838.

Photo by Dan Eriksson

Translation Source

About OTC: Founded in 1969, the Offshore Technology Conference is the world’s foremost event for the development of offshore resources in the fields of drilling, exploration, production, and environmental protection. OTC is held annually at Reliant Center in Houston. OTC ranks among the largest 200 trade shows held annually in the United States and is among the 10 largest meetings in terms of attendance. Attendance consistently exceeds 50,000, and more than 2,000 companies participate in the exhibition. OTC includes attendees from around the globe, with more than 110 countries represented at recent conferences.

About Translation Source: Translation Source provides industry leading multilingual solutions in all languages. Over the years, we have helped over 500 companies grow revenue, achieve a greater return on investment, and increased efficiencies through the proper localization/translation of their content.

Our integrated team of professional industry consultants, project managers, technical specialists, and linguists help companies to develop an industry-leading solution that is customized to their specific needs.

If you would like additional information on this topic or have questions on planning and executing your next translation or multilingual initiative, contact us today for a free 30-minute consultationor call us at (800) 413-7838.

1. Know the prospects:
Petrobras’ made history in 2006 with their huge discovery of pre-salt and a conservative estimate projects that reserves will double thanks to broad access to new reserves. Exploration in Brazilian sedimentary basins show incredible hydrocarbon potential and deep-water discoveries in Brazil make up 1/3 of global discoveries from 2005-2010. This planned expansion means many new refineries as well as critical resources and equipment will be required and US$4.6 billion has been set aside for investment in cutting-edge technology. In the meantime, the company remains committed to investment in research and development in order to maintain their competitive advantage. No matter what your game is, the prospects for doing business with Petrobras have never been better.

2. Know who you’re dealing with:
Petrobras is Brazil’s pride and joy as proved by former Brazilian President Lula who once said “If Petrobras were a woman, it would be the one that all mothers would like their sons to be married to.” Boasting $70billion in the last five years, business is booming and the company has a lot to be optimistic about as the newly appointed CEO Maria das Graças Foster brings a new perspective to the company. Nicknamed “the Iron Lady of Oil” this self-made woman rose from one Rio’s favelas to become the first woman to head Petrobras, the largest company in South America.

3. Learn what they’re looking for:
Petrobras employees are loyal to their company and applaud the many professional development and learning opportunities offered at Brazil’s oil giant. Petrobras prides itself in its constant search for improvement, excellence, and profitability allied with social and environmental responsibility.  If you want to do business with Petrobras, you will need to show that you are playing the same game, which brings us to our next tip.

4. Avoid Foul Play:
Many of our oil and gas translation clients have found that Petrobras is truly committed to social and environmental responsibility; this is reflected in their long-term business strategy. Terms such as “corporate citizenship” and “sustainable development” have been prevalent in Brazilian consumer society for years and Brazil is on the cutting edge of innovating and implementing new procedures that keep up with global environmental protection standards. Petrobras states explicitly that it works towards “managing the potential impacts of its activities and projects geared to the protection of endangered areas and species”. They’ve set the bar high so if you have hopes of doing business with Petrobras, you’ll need to show them that are able to keep up in areas of environmental protection.

5. Develop an entry strategy:
It is said that business in Brazil is based on personal relationships but when it comes to doing business with Petrobras, it’s going to take more than a contact to get your foot in the door. An organized, clear cut business plan is a must since the company has strict requirements on procurement and procedures.

6. Play by Their Rules:
If you want to be successful in doing business with Petrobras, you can’t ignore their ground rules. Your product or service must be fully qualified and you will need to develop a complete proposal or bid package to even be considered. Petrobras establishes a straightforward but complex bidding process and invitations aren’t always broadcast so it can be difficult to spot the upcoming opportunities. Experts such as oil and gas translators may make the process run smoother for you and  a partnership with a local company will also help you score the bid.

7. Move Forward:
After you’ve landed the contract with this multi billion dollar oil company, you’ll have much to celebrate but before you sit back and enjoy the caipirinhas, you’ll first want to ensure that your partnership is successful and will lead to future collaborations. The best advice out there is “don’t go it alone.” Pair up with local experts that can help you with international staffing, local tax and labor laws, as well as Portuguese language services to assure that your business with Petrobras is communicated effectively.

If you would like additional information on this topic or have questions on planning and executing your next translation or multilingual initiative, contact us today for a free 30-minute consultation or call us at (800) 413-7838.

If you would like additional information on this topic or have questions on planning and executing your next translation or multilingual initiative, contact us today for a free 30-minute consultationor call us at (800) 413-7838.

1. Seize the Opportunities
Brazil may be best known for its breathtaking beaches and it lush rainforests but its booming economy with excellent investment opportunities is now attracting more foreigner business people than ever before. With a population of 190 million and a GDP of almost $2 trillion, Brazil represents the 5th largest opportunity in the world after China, India, Indonesia and the United States. Opportunities abound for small to mid-sized companies in many sectors of the Brazilian market. With the preparations in full swing for the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics billions have been earmarked for infrastructure, roads, ports, airports, and stadiums. Agriculture, construction, security, mining, telecommunications are some other promising areas for exports and investment. While the oil and gas industry is also very strong in Brazil, the country is now one of the leaders of hydroelectric power making investment into this industry extremely promising as well. An IMF (International Monetary Fund) report indicates that Brazil leads all other South American countries in terms of infrastructure and technological development.
 
2. Do Your Homework
Brazil is a hotspot for companies looking to expand their business and boost global sales but doing business in Brazil requires knowledge of the local environment. Often referred as the “custom Brazil” there are many hidden costs associated with doing business in this vibrant country. For example, Brazil’s inflation of labor costs is among the highest in Latin America and there are many labor charges on top of base salaries. Possible sources of funding must also be explored due to high interest rates on credit. Other obstacles in the way of smooth global sales for your company may include the complex customs system, lengthy legal processes and heavy taxes. Brazil may have dropped six points in the ranking since 2011 making it the 58th most difficult country to do business with but the strength of its economy, its rapidly expanding consumer class and the numerous opportunities for growth may make it worth the hassle.

3. Hire an Expert
If you’re going to be doing business in Brazil, a trustworthy financial adviser and a great accountant can help you cut through the red tape and navigate the complex tax and labor laws. Don’t speak Portuguese? Brazil has received a below-average score in a new report that rates English-language competency around the word so you may need to solicit a good translation company in order to effectively communicate your international business proposal and an international bilingual staffing consultant can make sure you have the right people working for you once your business is off the ground.

4. Plan a Trip
Once you’ve researched this booming market you’ll need to start developing your market entry strategy. Some of the easiest ways are through a sales representative or distribution network, setting up a subsidiary of your existing company, or acquiring an already established Brazilian company. Personal relationships are the foundation of Brazil’s business culture and many people find that visiting a trade show is the simplest way to begin doing business in Brazil. For public sector procurements a local Brazilian partner is a must and a face to face meeting is preferred. Learning a few words of Portuguese will go a long way towards showing your Brazilian business contacts that you respect their culture but a trustworthy local interpreter should be present to avoid miscommunication during any serious business meeting.

5. Familiarize Yourself with Local Customs
Since personal relationships are the key to a successful business venture in Brazil, you’ll want to sharpen your Brazilian social skills. In a business meeting it is customary to start out with some casual small talk, never delve into business discussions before your host broaches the subject. It’s most likely that entertaining will take place in a restaurant but if you are invited to a Brazilian home, it is seen as polite to send the hostess a flower arrangement the next day as a thank you. Gift giving is not expected at a business meeting, instead pick up the tab, a 10% tip is appropriate at a bar or restaurant. For a toast to your future success in Brazilian business try “saude” (sah-OO-day) or “viva” (VEE-va).

6. Pick a Brazilian Home base
It has been said that the biggest mistake a foreigner can make when doing business in Brazil is to visit Rio first. The city is breathtaking, the lifestyle is enticing and it’s easier for your family to transition there. Rio may be the “marvelous city” but Sao Paulo, the “city of drizzle” is still the business center of the country and the place you’ll likely want to be when doing business in Brazil. Setting up your Brazilian home base there from the start will save you an inconvenient and costly move later down the line and with a lot of planning and a little luck you’ll see a quick return on your investment in this booming economy and you’ll be celebrating on a beautiful Brazilian beach in no time.

If you would like additional information on this topic or have questions on planning and executing your next translation or multilingual initiative, contact us today for a free 30-minute consultation or call us at (800) 413-7838.