翻译服务：每个本地化经理需要问的5个问题专业

If your responsibility is to ensure your company’s products and services are properly localized in all your markets, you already have your hands full. Digging into technology and process innovation can be a whole can of worms, especially if your current localization end-to-end appears to be functioning just OK. Maybe you’re aware of the occasional glitch in the matrix, but you know that, overall, you’ve always managed to make it work. Maybe you want to avoid causing a stir, or the challenge of revamping your tech stack looks too daunting. Our brains like to block out questions to which we don’t have an answer. But in the word of the philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti, “to ask the right question is far more important than to receive the answer.”文章源自西贝博客-https://qinghe.me/5-questions-every-localization-manager-needs-to-ask.html

如果你的职责是确保你们公司的产品和服务在你们所有的市场都能正确本地化，你早就忙得不可开交了。深入研究技术和流程创新可能会导致一团糟，尤其是如果你当前的端对端本地化似乎运行正常的话。或许你意识到了模型中偶尔会出现小故障，但总的来说，你知道你总能成功解决这些问题。也许你想避免引起骚动，或者翻新你的技术堆栈这个挑战看起来太令人怯步。我们的大脑喜欢屏蔽那些我们得不出答案的问题。但用哲学家吉杜·克里希那穆提的话来说，“提出正确的问题远比得到答案重要得多。”

Uncomfortable questions lead us to a willingness to see what we didn't see, to learn what we didn’t know, and to create a perspective that helps us leapfrog or solve a big problem. Here are five such questions you will want to ask.文章源自西贝博客-https://qinghe.me/5-questions-every-localization-manager-needs-to-ask.html

令人不适的问题会让我们愿意看到我们之前没看到的东西，学习我们从前不了解的东西，并创造出一种视角，这个视角能帮助我们跨越或解决一个大问题。以下是你会想要提问的五个这样的问题。

Why should I care about the latest and greatest in language technology?文章源自西贝博客-https://qinghe.me/5-questions-every-localization-manager-needs-to-ask.html

我为什么应该关注语言技术中的最新最佳进展呢？

If you’re thinking “why bother, it’s the translators’ job,” you may believe that outsourcing the problems solves the problems. But localization is bigger than what is usually outsourced — it starts higher upstream and ends when the end-user interacts with the content. If you feel that there’s space for improvement, it’s because there very likely is. Many localization managers today miss out on some of the key capabilities and opportunities that technology offers, even though they want to stay ahead of competition, deliver faster, and decrease costs. Although the technology features themselves are important, it’s primarily about having a sustainable end-to-end workflow supported by a relevant tech stack. So you should care in order for your business to stay relevant, to continue being supported by your internal customers and stakeholders, and to be able to use this knowledge to innovate when the right moment comes along, instead of simply relying on doing your best to catch up when the need arises.文章源自西贝博客-https://qinghe.me/5-questions-every-localization-manager-needs-to-ask.html

如果你在想“为什么要自找麻烦，这是译者的工作”，你或许以为交给外包就能解决问题。但是本地化比一般的外包范围要大--它始于更高的源头，结束于最终用户与内容的交互。如果你觉得还有改进的空间，是因为很有可能事实的确如此。如今，许多本地化管理人员错失了技术所带来的一些核心能力和机遇，但是他们还想在竞争中处于领先地位，更快完成交付，并且降低成本。虽然技术特性本身很重要，但它主要是由相关技术栈支持的可持续端到端工作流。所以你应该关注语言技术的进展，以便使你的业务保持相关性，使你能继续获得你内部客户和利益相关者的支持，并且能够在正确时机到来时，利用这些知识进行创新，而不是仅仅依赖于需求增长时才竭尽所能去追赶。

Why change something that has been working well so far?

我为什么应该关注语言技术中的最新最佳进展呢？

Change is uncomfortable. Having the autopilot on saves energy and effort. But here is the question lurking behind the question: “How do you know your overall localization process is actually working well, and what exactly constitutes your definition of “well”?” The answers to this question often range from dead silence to assumptions instead of being backed by valid data. If you don’t know how and where your localization system is improving over time, then your approach is perfectible. To answer the question “why change” means to uncover inefficiencies that many managers are not happy to bring to light. Modern technologies are highly supportive of agile and streamlined end-to-end processes. There is so much more localization leaders can achieve tech-wise than they’re currently doing. On the other hand, it’s not just about looking at new technology. Asking this question may help you discover that you already have a hidden software gem in your company, only it’s not used effectively or it hasn’t been properly integrated.

变化会带来不适。开启自动驾驶仪可以节省能源和精力。但这个问题背后潜伏着另外一个问题：“你如何知道你的本地化过程整体而言的确运行良好呢，确切来说是什么构成了你对”良好“的定义？”这个问题的答案往往带来死一般的沉默，或是产生一些怀疑，而缺少有效数据的支撑。如果你不知道随着时间的推移，你的本地化系统是如何改进的以及在哪里改进的，那么该本地化的进程有待完善。回答“为什么要改变”这个问题，意味着要揭开低效率问题，这是许多管理者不愿意公之于众的。现代技术高度支持敏捷和流线型的端到端流程。本地化领头人能够实现的技术智慧要比他们目前做的多得多。另一方面，这不仅仅是看新技术就可以。问这个问题可能会帮助你发现，你你们公司早就有一款隐藏的宝藏软件，只不过它没有得到有效利用，或者没有进行适当集成。

Is there anything we can learn from others who embrace digital transformation?

从那些拥有数字化转型的人身上，我们有什么可以借鉴的吗？

The concrete localization innovation initiatives undertaken by top players today differ greatly, but their various strategies all display repeating patterns and principles. Insights about technology and best practices are often not publicly available because they constitute the company’s competitive advantage. We know that the approaches to global content quality, leverage frameworks, and system setups can be adopted, customized, and accelerated in your own unique environment. An independent view of your whole process and localization lifestyle will help you understand which models are most suitable, and will also help you build a best-in-class localization program.

如今顶尖公司所采取的具体本地化创新举措大相径庭，但他们不同的策略却都显示出重复的模式和原则。关于技术和最佳实践的见解往往不公开，因为这些构成了公司的竞争优势。我们知道，对全球内容质量，杠杆框架和系统设置的处理方式可以在你们自己独特的环境中采用，定制和加速。对于你们整个流程和本地化方式的独立见解会帮助你了解哪些模型最合适，也会帮助您构建一流的本地化方案。

What can I do to reduce complexity in the localization end-to-end?

要如何做才能降低端到端本地化的复杂性？

Too many gadgets, bolt-on quality steps, and excessive resources thrown onto an ecosystem without understanding the whole content environment typically increases complexity. You may well be facing business requirements to deliver faster and achieve better ROI, while you also know that automation alone is not the solution. A well set-up technology system can help you understand demand from all your customers in all its types, sizes, and frequencies. Then you can start reducing variation. The first step is to have meaningful data about demand.

在不了解整个内容环境的情况下，将过多小配件，附加质量步骤和过多资源投入到一个生态系中，通常会增加复杂性。你很可能面临着一些业务需求，做到更快交付，实现更好的ROI，同时你也知道仅靠自动化并不是解决方案。一个良好的技术系统可以帮助你了解所有客户的需求，无论其类型，规模和频率。然后你就可以开始减少变更了。第一步是要有关于客户需求的有价值的数据。

What is the true value of today’s localization technology solutions?

当今本地化技术解决方案的真正价值是什么？

It’s sometimes hard to get your bearings in the localization technology landscape when you're trying to assess a need for tech innovation or you’re already looking at an upgrade. To know where to start and have a sense of direction when choosing a better translation management system, leverage framework, or business platform can be challenging. It can take months to narrow the choices down to a shortlist of three. Also, the truth in terms of the capability and fitness for your scheme is often hidden behind elaborate sales pitches. If you want to stay up-to-date on technology capabilities, accelerate the change within your organization, see through the sales talk and even peek into the kitchen, consider using independent resources and guidance.

当你试图评估技术创新的需求或者你已经在考虑升级时，有时很难在本地化技术领域中找清方向。选择更好翻译管理系统，杠杆框架或业务平台时，知道从哪里开始并有方向感可能是一个挑战。可能会耗时几个月才能将候选名单的范围缩小到三个。此外，真实的性能和适合你的方案往往隐藏在精心设计的销售方案后面。如果你想保持最新的技术能力，那么就要加快改变内部结构，看穿销售话术，甚至要窥视厨房，考虑使用独立的资源和指导。