How can such translations help protect your reputation and save you money?
As globalisation continues to blur the lines between countries and cultures, it has become easier for goods and services to be sold on international markets. With this in mind, it is worth considering the value of information on the packaging, labels, and instructions for use of imported and exported products. Previously, we discussed the importance of localising texts for e-shops selling both goods and services. In this article , we will focus on the significance of translating product packaging and related information.
Legal requirements
The Law on the Protection of Consumer Rights in Lithuania grants consumers the right to receive accurate and comprehensive information about goods and services in their national language. This requirement, which is also commonly enforced in other EU countries, mandates that manufacturers, sellers, and service providers display information such as names of goods, prices, methods of use, warranties, etc., in the national language. Failure to translate or inadequate translation can lead to penalties. Despite this, there are instances where companies choose not to translate product instructions into Lithuanian in an effort to save money. On more than one occasion, we have received letters from dissatisfied customers in the past who have contacted us for assistance. “Help!” One such instance involved a buyer who was unhappy that the product did not come with Lithuanian instructions and threatened to take legal action if they were not provided quickly. As a result, we always advise our clients to order translations in advance to ensure that they are completed accurately and to a high standard, thereby avoiding any potential issues.
A mistake can cost lives
Inaccurate translations on product packaging can not only harm a company's reputation but also jeopardize the safety and proper use of the product. The stakes are high in medical translation, as a mistake could have severe consequences, including endangering a patient's health or life. For example, imagine a person purchasing a prescription medication from a foreign pharmacy with a label that contains incorrect dosage information. In that case, it can prove fatal for the patient's health! To ensure accuracy, AIRV employs experienced translators, some of whom even hold medical degrees.
Technology optimises work
Our team uses computer-assisted translation (CAT) software, which ensures consistency, accuracy, and integrity of translated texts.
How are translation programmes used? Each client's translations are stored in a dedicated database, and for confidentiality purposes, the memories of different clients are not interchangeable. Continuously translating and updating client texts generates valuable information that is useful for future translations. The CAT software identifies previously translated words or phrases, eliminating the need to translate the same content multiple times. If you have already translated the instruction manual, say, for a kettle, and launch a newer version of the product, an updated model may only require minor changes to its instruction manual, such as the name and specifications. By uploading the manual for the new kettle into the translation software, the tool will detect that much of the text has already been translated, allowing you to easily update the remaining parts.
This method has proven successful in the food industry, where minor changes to ingredients or percentages occur when translating information on labels or packaging.
Utilising translation software is an excellent way to save time and reduce future translation costs for clients. The more similar or related texts that are translated, the quicker the work is completed, resulting in lower translation costs.
However, some companies, both in Lithuania and other countries, choose to cut costs by using publicly available machine translation software to translate their product or service descriptions. While machine translation programs are improving rapidly and provide assistance to users in understanding foreign languages, we strongly advise using the services of a professional translation agency for texts intended for official use. As an example, consider the following product description that was translated by a machine: "You need to take your mother and stepmother, grind them into dust and add to boiled milk. The resulting product is applied to the hands and sealed in a small bag. The course lasts 5 days”.
Therefore, to prevent being turned into dust by angry customers and potential loss of clients or reputation, we advise you to rely on professional translation services.
Looking for fast and high-quality translations? Don't hesitate to contact us and let us assist you with any of your translation inquiries!