Have you tried a language translation software lately? If you have, you’ve probably noticed how capable of results they can turn up. While not as accurate nor as poignant as custom-written translations, software-generated documents are now able to turn up readable documents that do an average job. With more developments expected of the platform in the future, it’s very likely that they’ll only get even better over time.
The question then is: will it ever improve to the point that renders independent translation businesses obsolete?
Many language experts agree that the time isn’t likely to ever come (or should be decades if not centuries ahead). As advanced as language software technology has become, they don’t even come close to the quality of translations that humans can perform. Similarly, automated translation isn’t a particularly lucrative area, as say bioresearch, which means the level of linguistic research afforded it doesn’t even come near that given to areas considered more “vital” to society.
For the most part, you can expect translation companies to remain in business even after many years. As such, your organization’s translation strategies will need to continue taking that into consideration. Even though they are expensive, especially compared to the one-time payment value of a language translation software, they’re a necessary part of doing business.