Is Your Language Services Company One of the Most Important in the World?

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Global Watchtower

Common Sense Advisory Blogs

Posted by Nataly Kelly, Donald A. DePalma on April 6, 2010 in the following blogs: Business Globalization, Best Practices, Interpreting, Market Data, Translation and Localization
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It's that time of year again. No, we're not talking about Easter, Holi, Norwuz, Ostara, Maslenitsa, Passover, or Purim. It's the season when Common Sense Advisory issues a call for participation in our annual global market study and ranking of language service providers. In the spirit of renewal that accompanies springtime in the Northern Hemisphere, we are excited to announce a few changes to this year's initiative.

Common Sense Advisory's market size estimates for the translation and interpreting industries are cited by the world's leading business publications. Each year, our study has grown both in size and depth. This year, prompted largely by requests from clients, our global market study is undergoing a bit of a makeover:

Not just the largest global players. For many years, companies have asked us, "When will you publish a ranking for Canada?" "Which company is the largest in Luxembourg?" While we cannot promise that we'll produce country-specific lists for each and every country on the planet, we're sending out invitations to more than 10,000 language service providers (LSPs) around the world in an effort to encourage maximum participation. So, whether you're the most successful translation company in San Marino or the largest interpreting agency in Liechtenstein, we want to know about you.

Not just the largest players, period. You don't have to be big to be great. This year, in addition to ranking the largest players in different regions, we've issued a call for LSPs of all sizes to step forward for potential inclusion in a list of the most innovative companies in the language services industry. We often take briefings from start-ups and small firms -- and the ideas we see from these businesses are often frequently the most interesting. Many medium- to large-sized players also have brilliant ideas that are either underfunded or underpromoted. Sound familiar? We'd like to help draw attention to your creative offerings -- but we can only do this if you tell us about them.

A full Common Sense Advisory report as thanks for participation. Normally, we provide survey participants with a summary of results -- in the past, this has come in the form of a link to the public ranking and market size information. This year, every legitimate respondent (you must represent an LSP in order to qualify) will receive a copy of the full report -- a more comprehensive study of the market that is separate from the public ranking. Take advantage of this opportunity -- it doesn't come along very often!

A more detailed analysis of market characteristics. This year's market study will go beyond the numbers and into some of the qualitative analysis that our readers have been requesting. Does certification really matter? How likely are you to acquire another business? What are your biggest challenges? Don't be shy - share your input on these and other topics.

In summary, just as we do every year, we are setting out with ambitious plans to provide the most comprehensive overview of the global language services market -- but with more nuance than we did the year before. So, we're asking for your help in getting the word out. If you're on the board of an association, share this announcement with your members. If you're a freelance language professional, tell your clients about this opportunity. If you're a buyer, encourage your suppliers to participate. And if you're an LSP, what are you waiting for? Take our survey now, and we may feature you in our research.

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