There are over 6,500 languages in the world today, and you can’t predict which one your next customer will speak. As companies grow to connect with global audiences, they seek ways to overcome cultural barriers and enhance the customer experience for people in various countries. SDL BeGlobal is a platform that helps with this, offering businesses translation tools and native speakers.
In this SDL BeGlobal review, I will take the online translation platform for a test drive. Although I will primarily focus on the translation tools most useful for individuals and small businesses, I also plan on taking a look at the features aimed at Fortune 500 enterprise customers. By the end of this review, I hope to have a broader understanding of how SDL BeGlobal can improve productivity for brands that need content translation services.
About SDL BeGlobal
SDL BeGlobal is an online translation platform that businesses of all sizes — from Fortune 500 companies all the way to single individuals — can use to make sure the content on their websites appeals to a global audience. The company has found a way to combine complex digital algorithms with human translation services, to provide its clients with a simplified, streamlined translation system.
In addition to its basic capabilities, SDL BeGlobal provides developers with an API that can be integrated into other software, as well. The SDL BeGlobal platform serves as a middle ground between traditional computer translation software (which can be inaccurate) and human translation services (which can be costly and time consuming). By combining machine and human translation, SDL BeGlobal has developed a way to optimize the return on its clients’ budgets by applying the right quality at the right price.
Main Functionality of SDL BeGlobal
Content owners who are looking to translate or localize any type of content can get a free quote from SDL BeGlobal at any time. Just select the language that the content should be translated to — SDL BeGlobal lets you choose between English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese (simplified), Chinese (traditional), Russian, German, Italian, Dutch, and Japanese — and upload the document. SDL BeGlobal supports documents as .doc(x), .ppt(x), .odt, .pdf & .txt files, up to a maximum of 5MB in size.
In mere seconds, SDL BeGlobal will provide you with three price quotes for translating your document. The three quotes are based on how quickly the document can be transcribed, as well as whether add-on features like proofreading or post-editing review will be included. Once you’ve made your selection, SDL BeGlobal’s native linguists will get to work translating your document by the selected deadline.
Benefits of Using SDL BeGlobal
Privacy and security are of the utmost importance for Fortune 500 companies. SDL BeGlobal takes these issues into consideration, providing clients with a secure cloud-based platform that scales automatically. By combining human translation with mechanic algorithms, SDL BeGlobal is able to deliver handcrafted content translations, written by native linguists, within tight timeframes.
SDL BeGlobal handles both personal documents and business documents. The company’s professional translators are experts in many industries, making it possible for technical documents, user manuals, and marketing materials to be translated with complete accuracy. On the personal side, SDL BeGlobal also provides individuals with an easy-to-use platform for translating personal letters, immigration documents, and CVs or resumes into other languages.
The Basics: What Does the Interface Look Like?
To get a quote on your next translation project, select the language you’re translating your document from and to, and then upload the document you would like to translate. SDL BeGlobal supports documents in multiple formats, up to 5MB in size.
After quickly scanning your document, SDL BeGlobal will provide you with three levels of price quotes. Select a quote based on the level of accuracy and deadline that fits with your schedule. The faster the translated document is delivered, the more expensive the project is going to be.
View the status of your orders by clicking the “Translation Orders” tab. SDL BeGlobal lists your active orders and completed orders. You can download orders or see the status of any orders that are still in progress.
Support Information
SDL BeGlobal provides users with a support section powered by UserVoice. Browse articles in the platform’s knowledge base. Article topics run the gamut from “How does this work?” to “What if I’m not happy with my service or translation quality?” SDL BeGlobal encourages users to vote on whether each article was helpful. For the answers to more specific questions, SDL BeGlobal encourages its users to contact its support desk directly.
Pricing Information
Users can select the price point they are most comfortable with when having content transcribed by the platform’s native linguists. Prices are determined by a number of factors based on the individual document being uploaded. Individuals and businesses are encouraged to upload their own documents for free price quotes.
Typical pricing on a multi-page word document ranges from $75 to $218, with an estimated delivery of one to two business days.
The Bottom Line
SDL BeGlobal is an excellent platform that rides the line between computer algorithm and human translation. Because their documents are being transcribed by native linguists — and in some cases, even proofread and reviewed by industry experts —individuals and businesses of all sizes can feel confident in the accuracy of any content they have transcribed through SDL BeGlobal’s web-based platform.
Ratings: ease of use 5/5, features 5/5, value 4/5