When we started thinking about self-driven implementation back in 2017, we had a lot of ideas about what would work and what wouldn’t. We had based all these ideas on an image we had of potential customers, who (for their own different reasons) would prefer to go down the XTRF Academy path, instead of choosing the individual implementation option.

We’re still reminiscing XTRF Summit, although it’s already over. It was a challenge to organize such a conference for the first time in our company’s history. Our clients have always been encouraging us to organize an event where the clients, partners, and the XTRF team could meet. Encouraged by them, we started planning the Summit.

You have likely considered that although you closed many projects and done a tremendous amount of work, the financial results did not reflect the amount of effort you exerted. It is easy to get bogged down with projects that do not bring a satisfactory return relative to the work involved.

We all know that business is about relationships: between producers and consumers, between owners and workers, between office co-workers, departments, delivery guys and cafeteria staff. But the translation industry relies on a specific type of relationship since translation itself is as much art as it is a science.

“A temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product or service”- this is the definition of project management according to “Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge”. To be on top of this year’s trends, this description should extend to include the phrase “by the flexible Project Manager”.

Many things have already been written on the specific aspects of a business relationship with your customers – but let’s focus here on just those specific to the translation and localization industry. Keeping in mind today’s trends for smaller and quicker job requests from your customers, it’s impossible not to think about what influences a good relationship between your translation agency and your customers.

A perfect modern translation business is a constantly evolving target. You want to excel in your job, but the pressure is steadily mounting and you feel that you are fighting a losing battle against deadlines, margins, and requirements.

One day a few years back I sat down, frustrated. And I thought to myself: even though I’m involved in personal and team productivity, and I already use quite a few good techniques and habits and organize myself well, things just don’t progress at the tempo I would wish.

If you are asking yourself the above question, one thing is certain: for some reason the way you currently manage your translation processes doesn’t work for you. Moreover, you think that implementing a Translation Management System (TMS) or replacing the one you currently use with a better one is what you need.