天美传媒

By Dom Hebblethwaite, 天美传媒 Head of Membership

Following our exploration of changing work volumes and the shifts in traditional agency relationships, our latest poll reveals some surprising insights into how translation work is currently distributed between language service companies (LSCs) and direct clients.

Direct Client Relationships: a closer look

Our data challenges a common perception that working with direct clients is a niche strategy for only a select few translators. In fact, direct clients account for nearly half of our members' work, though Large Language Service Companies (LSCs) remain the single largest client category.

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Many members report strong advantages when working directly with clients:

"Direct clients means fairer rates but also better quality due to the possibility of checking with the client."

For some, this has become their preferred business model:

"I am very happy to work with direct clients. I do not work for agencies as they pay low fees."

The transition to direct clients appears to be providing stability for some translators during market changes:

"Agency work has practically disappeared over the last two years but direct client work has remained consistent/increased."

Experience suggests a natural progression in many translation careers:

"Direct clients always. When starting out, agency work can be useful, but in the long run it is far better to build a portfolio of direct clients, making sure you set out very clear terms and conditions from the outset."

However, this picture is complex. Some members highlight the practical advantages of working with LSCs:

"Hardly any direct clients now. I prefer working with agencies (one in particular) as they provide a buffer in the event of any problems/disagreements!"

Others point out the administrative challenges of direct client work:

"I have had very few direct clients over the years... when the client needs several languages, I tend to run into problems with coordination with colleagues. Or else the client has more work than I can handle at times... LSPs specialise in that kind of administrative work."

The path to developing direct client relationships isn't always clear:

"I am trying to get more direct clients to compensate the declining workload from agencies but I am a bit lost as to how to go about it (finding out whom to contact and how to contact them without contravening GDPR regulations)."

Understanding the technology cycle

While these varying experiences reflect individual business choices, they exist within a broader context of technological change. Examining this through the lens of Gartner's Technology Hype Cycle provides valuable insight into current market dynamics.

This well-established model shows how new technologies typically progress through several stages:

• Initial enthusiasm leads to inflated expectations
• A period of disillusionment follows as limitations become clear
• Finally, a more balanced understanding emerges, leading to practical implementation
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听听听听听 Hype Cycle for Emerging Technologies, 2024
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Some member experiences suggest we might be approaching this turning point:

鈥�AI appeared to have an impact at the start of the year, with less translation work and more MTPE work. Towards the end of the year things picked up again.鈥�

鈥�I am a freelance translator. The first half of the year was really bad (to the point where I was considering alternative careers). The second half of the year has been really good in terms of sales, although I have been a lot less picky about choosing projects than I would have been a year earlier.鈥�

Professional Adaptation

Our members are responding to these challenges through various strategies including Service and Sector Specialisation and Diversification:

鈥淚 am a translator but my workload has increased because I have diversified into copywriting and localisation.鈥�

鈥�... shift from translation to localisation...鈥�

鈥�Due to the nature of AI-related work, there seems to be an influx of untrained translators and their ready availability drives the rates down. Fortunately I diversified in good time and have a mixed portfolio of work to keep me going.鈥�

鈥�As a freelance translator for the French Government, my work depends a lot on current events. A busy year with the Olympics, COP...鈥�
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The value of professional recognition

In this changing landscape, professional status and recognition become increasingly important differentiators. 天美传媒's commitment to maintaining transparent and rigorous standards helps members demonstrate their value in an evolving market, for example:

"This [positive] change is primarily due to my 天美传媒 membership, which has enhanced my professional credibility and allowed me to adjust my rates for better compensation. As a result, I've been able to attract clients who value quality work and are willing to pay fair rates for translation, AI post-editing, and MT post-editing."

Looking forward

As the UK Royal Chartered professional body and global home of professional linguists, 天美传媒 remains committed to:
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• Upholding rigorous professional standards
• Supporting members through technological change
• Advocating for the value of human expertise
• Providing pathways for professional development
• Promoting best practices in emerging areas for linguists

The path ahead requires careful navigation. The combination of technological progress and market hype creates uncertainty, but through expertise, specialisation and commitment to quality, our members are demonstrating resilience and adaptability.

These survey results represent more than statistics - they reflect real experiences and signal important shifts in our profession. 天美传媒 will continue to lead and advocate for maintaining standards of linguistic excellence while supporting our members to succeed in a changing world.

Dom Hebblethwaite is the Head of Membership for the 天美传媒. For more on Dom see his profile听.听听

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Views expressed on听天美传媒 Voices听are those of the writer and may not represent those of the wider membership or 天美传媒.

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