Since early March of 2020, COVID-19 has changed the world irrevocably. In the translation and interpretation industry, for instance, multinational corporations and international associations have had to turn global and face-to-face events into online video conferences. Consequently, workers have to rapidly adopt digital technology and tools to reduce the disruption of day-to-day operations.
1. Who has been the worst hit?
Given that many translators are used to working from home with the aid of glossaries and style guides, interpreters who normally work face-to-face have been the worst hit.
Due to a recent study of CSA Research, 55% of language service providers (LSP) report a decrease in business since the outbreak of the pandemic and show great concern about the uncertainty of how long the pandemic will last. The March, usually known as conference ‘high season,’ has been swept by a wave of cancellations. The worse the global situation gets (and country governments react accordingly), the more clients rely on the force majeure argument (unforeseeable circumstances that prevent the fulfillment of a contract) to try to avoid any cancellation fees.
Furthermore, many LSPs have had to move their services to online platforms, with varying degrees of success. Unfortunately, most language service providers have—until now—been operating traditionally and have thus struggled to take operations online during the pandemic. That said, the rapid adoption of digital transformation caused by COVID-19 has proven to be a boon for many tech-savvy companies.
2. Who is thriving during the pandemic?
While Language Service Providers (LSPs) registered a decrease in demand for their services from sectors such as events or travel and leisure, certain verticals seem to have seen a surge in demand. According to the CSA survey, 64% of LSPs report an increase in demand for interpretation in the health sector, with 59% reporting a higher demand from the life sciences, medical, and pharmaceuticals sector.
Moreover, to return to a semblance of normality, some LSPs are actively encouraging more of their employees to work from home, using videoconferencing and online interpretation platforms to do so. Accordingly, the stock of video conferencing platform Zoom has tripled in value over the last few months as remote working and video conferences become the norm.
3. What does the future look like?
The key requirements for any LSP to succeed in our new normal are resilience and adaptability. LSPs that can provide interpretation services via online platforms are already in a much better position than those that typically work offline. As markets reopen, there will be a greater focus on tools that streamline and improve the experience in the future.
Remote interpretation and participation may well lead to an increase in demand for interpretation services in the long run, because they are more attainable, affordable, and easier to arrange, especially for smaller organizations. At Australia’s Royal Melbourne Hospital, for example, video interpreting appointments have increased from 10–15 appointments per month (before COVID-19) to 100–200 a month currently.
4. Pioneering a positive way forward post-pandemic
While COVID-19 won’t be around forever, it will have a lasting effect on how interpreters operate in the future. For interpreting services to evolve and demonstrate value, translation, and interpretation expertise, organizations and professionals need to be resilient, flexible, and able to meet the demands of today’s digital-first world. There can be no disputing that online interpretation for events, conferences, seminars, and press meetings is the way of the future. Luckily, the tools to facilitate this paradigm shift are already available.
Source: Kim Ludvigsen
