| Старонкі тэмы: < [1 2] | Rates working with CAT tools for agencies Аўтар тэмы: Mara Ballarini
|
|---|
Jerzy Czopik 
Германія
Local time: 08:52
Член (ад 2003)
польская → нямецкая
+ ...
| And I still defend my point of view | Nov 8, 2006 |
I agree that we are acting on totally different markets.
Please consider the language pair I´m working in and my location.
Still I think I do better, if I give the client a decent rate ánd a rebate instead of charging a lower rate without any rebates.
This has two effects: on one hand the customer gets the feeling he is buying something worthy for less, which is a good psychological argument, and on the other hand I have the chance to keep my rates on higher level.
With... See more I agree that we are acting on totally different markets.
Please consider the language pair I´m working in and my location.
Still I think I do better, if I give the client a decent rate ánd a rebate instead of charging a lower rate without any rebates.
This has two effects: on one hand the customer gets the feeling he is buying something worthy for less, which is a good psychological argument, and on the other hand I have the chance to keep my rates on higher level.
With returning customer it is also a policy to keep them, for new customers a good marketing tool.
Finally, all what matters is my turnaround at months end.
Since I use Trados we were able to higher the turnaround significantly and it seems, that the whole potential is not completly used.
As Ralf said - this depends on variuos circumstances. I have the luck, that I do rarely get projects with ready TM. Such projects need special care. But when I get a project from returning customer, where the TM contains only my own translations, which have been checked and profread several times, I make only profit, as then I can pretranslate the document with my TM and only proofread the complete text, without the need to check every single match again and again.
Frankly, the situation of each of us is different enough, that there is no universal solution for everything. Nevertheless, I think it is still better to give a rebate and keep the rate higher as to lower the rate and charge in full. Sure, charging high rate in full would be the best solution, but I´m afraid in technical translation in Germany this is not possible anymore.
Regards
Jerzy ▲ Collapse
| | | | Ruxi
нямецкая → румынская
+ ...
| I am totally lost now | Nov 8, 2006 |
My questions:
1. Do we buy CAT for us, for making our job easier, or for to attract clients and a better price, or because the agencies want them to make their work easier?
2. Why do you/must we give our own TM's and glossaries to the client, or take some other from previous translations?
I thought TM is our private work. I would not give it and not take and work with another one, which may not be good enough for me.
3. Why do agencies need TM's? Do proof-readers use them... See more My questions:
1. Do we buy CAT for us, for making our job easier, or for to attract clients and a better price, or because the agencies want them to make their work easier?
2. Why do you/must we give our own TM's and glossaries to the client, or take some other from previous translations?
I thought TM is our private work. I would not give it and not take and work with another one, which may not be good enough for me.
3. Why do agencies need TM's? Do proof-readers use them too? I don't consider this thing fair either, as they have to proof according their own skills.
4. I don't understand to much the real value of TM in technical translations, as we get every day another field, another subject. I see it more suitable for literature, law or financial field, where the form, the expressions are very much repetitive and the same in all documents.
I am really lost, please anybody explain it.
I thought we get a document and give it back translated and what tool or method we use to translate is only our business.
Thank you in advance ▲ Collapse
| | | | Ralf Lemster
Германія
Local time: 08:52
англійская → нямецкая
+ ...
| Some explanations | Nov 8, 2006 |
1. Do we buy CAT for us, for making our job easier, or for to attract clients and a better price, or because the agencies want them to make their work easier?
I wouldn't generalise here - I originally bought a CAT tool (more than 10 years ago, BTW) in order to raise my productivity. Nowadays I keep my CAT software up to date for the same reason: in fact, I can generate more business, including large-sized projects.
2. Why do you/must we give our own TM's and glossaries to the client, or take some other from previous translations?
Nobody can force you to exchange TMs either way. As an outsourcer, I generally require pre-cleanup files to facilitate process integration. I provide reference TMs, which are quality-checked and usually extend beyond the scope of the job at hand.
3. Why do agencies need TM's? Do proof-readers use them too? I don't consider this thing fair either, as they have to proof according their own skills.
IMO the concept of fairness isn't relevant here - this is about process efficiency. Those service providers who are able to assess the entire process (as opposed to just their 'piece of the action'), and perform accordingly, are most sought after.
To illustrate the point, where translators offering skills and quality have shied away from investing in a CAT tool, I have bought a license, making it available to them (for unlimited use) against a discount on the price they charge. I dare say that none of them has regretted this - so far, only one person has returned the license because she stopped translating.
I thought we get a document and give it back translated and what tool or method we use to translate is only our business.
That applies to a very specific part of the market, where you work for end users only (e.g. in personal documents such as birth certificates). As soon as you're part of a team, refusing to work in a way that supports the overall process flow will put you at a disadvantage.
Hope that clarifies a thing or two.
Best regards,
Ralf
| | | | Samuel Murray
Нідэрланды
Local time: 08:52
Член (ад 2006)
англійская → афрыкаанс
+ ...
| Some more answers, since I've got time... | Nov 8, 2006 |
Ruxi wrote:
1. Do we buy CAT for us, for making our job easier, or for to attract clients and a better price, or because the agencies want them to make their work easier?
All three reasons.
2. Why do you/must we give our own TM's and glossaries to the client, or take some other from previous translations?
I use a separate glossary and TM for each client, so if the client wants to have the TM and glossary, he can have it. He doesn't gain anything except the ability to do some cool things quicker.
I would not not take and work with another TM, which may not be good enough for me.
One of the advantages of TM is consistency. But how would you make your translation consistent with the client's previous translations (done by other translators) if you only use your own TM and refuse to use the client's TM?
3. Why do agencies need TM's? Do proof-readers use them too? I don't consider this thing fair either, as they have to proof according their own skills.
Your client can create exactly the same TM as the one you would give him, by doing all sorts of things with your translation -- in effect reversing the translation and aligning the source and target text -- so why not just do him a nice favour and give him the darn TM?
Besides, I fail to see how providing the TM gives the proofreader any sort of (fair or unfair) advantage in his work.
I thought we get a document and give it back translated and what tool or method we use to translate is only our business.
You're welcome to do business that way.
But if you can create another file as a harmless byproduct in your translation process, and that file is somehow useful to the client, why not add it to the value that you add to your service to the client? What can you lose?
| | |
|
|
|
Viktoria Gimbe
Канада
Local time: 02:52
англійская → французская
+ ...
| Reactions to other posts | Nov 8, 2006 |
I agree with Jerzy on what he says on value added rates. I think it is very important to let the client know what s/he is paying for. The client will appreciate this information as he will know what he invests in and what it's worth, but the translator also wins by justifying the rates he charges. However, I don't go about it the same way. There are in fact many different ways to get more or less the same result. I give my established clients freebies once in a while instead of rebates. Actually... See more I agree with Jerzy on what he says on value added rates. I think it is very important to let the client know what s/he is paying for. The client will appreciate this information as he will know what he invests in and what it's worth, but the translator also wins by justifying the rates he charges. However, I don't go about it the same way. There are in fact many different ways to get more or less the same result. I give my established clients freebies once in a while instead of rebates. Actually, rebates are not so good in my opinion because they directly affect your rates. Clients have a tendency to take rebates for granted and they often demand that rebate on all subsequent jobs, which can hurt the translator and the market in general in the long run.
To react to Ralf on what he says about choosing the right clients, the 13,000-word job I mentioned is well paid because I do get paid for 100% matches. I get paid for fuzzy matches at the same rate as I get paid for no matches. I was rather using that example to illustrate that, with the amount of time it takes to get those 10,000 words of 100% matches to top shape, it would have been volunteer work to not charge for them. The client is a great client and it IS worth working for them. But I do get offers on similar jobs where the client wants to have those 100% matches at no charge because to them, they don't involve any work on my part. I flat out refuse such contracts because in practice, those 100% matches do require work, sometimes substantial. Also, let's not forget that my translation may not be consistent with the translations already in the supplied TM and it can hurt a text badly to have two completely different standards applied to it. This is my argument when I try to convince clients to pay for the 100% matches and have them checked by the translator - whether it be me or somebody else. I have just convinced one of my good clients to proof a TM containing the work of half a dozen translators. They are willing to invest in this because their client whose TM we work with represents a good amount of work and therefore they want to keep that client.
Also, on what Ralf says about fairness... In my example, I used the word fairness to describe sound business. I was trying to show that when the client requires Trados, wants to pay nothing for 100% matches and gets rebates on fuzzy matches (and then even sometimes wants to pay after 60 days), it's not sound business anymore from the point of view of the freelancer.
My point in all my postings is this: it's OK to require the use of CAT, it's OK to require that repetitions are not paid, but as far as I'm concerned, I did not buy my CAT tool to help the client make more money and I find that with CAT schemes, all too often, the profits of the use of CAT are not shared equally. I find that in most cases, the profits go to the client/agency and little or nothing is left for the freelancer. However, the freelancer paid money to get the CAT tool and spent time on learning to use it. This is like an extra skill which should be taken in consideration when determining rates. And if we add to this that many agencies charge full price to their clients despite the fact that they get rebates for them from the freelancer, well... ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Старонкі тэмы: < [1 2] | To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator: You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request » Rates working with CAT tools for agencies | Trados Studio 2022 Freelance | The leading translation software used by over 270,000 translators.
Designed with your feedback in mind, Trados Studio 2022 delivers an unrivalled, powerful desktop
and cloud solution, empowering you to work in the most efficient and cost-effective way.
More info » |
| | Anycount & Translation Office 3000 | Translation Office 3000
Translation Office 3000 is an advanced accounting tool for freelance translators and small agencies. TO3000 easily and seamlessly integrates with the business life of professional freelance translators.
More info » |
|
| | | | X Sign in to your ProZ.com account... | | | | | |
Login to reply/comment 
Translation news
