Overview
Bridging the linguistic gap, translation services pave way for advancements in all sectors
Singapore, being a multicultural and multilingual country, offers four official languages - English, Mandarin, Malay and Tamil. The translation sector in Singapore is a means to connect individuals, businesses and communities globally. The need for translators has increased with the nation’s expansion into foreign markets and given rise to an increasing number of businesses working alongside translators in order to ensure services are adapted to specific business requirements.
Certified translation agencies work through objectives of a customer, nuances, subtleties and cultures involved in translation projects, along with leveraging translation memory, term definitions and glossaries. General translation services are divided into categories centered around document translations, legal translations, website translations, business translations, financial translations and medical translations. Within Singapore, translation services are available for languages such as Chinese, Indonesian, Japanese, Tamil, Korean, Italian, German, French and Vietnamese.
In 2022, 75% of consumers preferred buying products from websites in their native languages, while 86% of localized mobile advertisements (advertisements narrated in the local language) reported higher click-through rates than their English counterparts. This proves just how important it is for businesses to cross linguistic barriers in order to obtain global recognition and clientele.
The increase in demand and opportunities has led to industries, companies and countries seeking help from translation agencies and freelancers. Within the software sector alone, online gaming, mobile applications and cryptocurrencies are known to use global applications requiring translation assistance. Another sector using translation services on a large scale is the financial industry, which is filled with large multinational brands working with abundant market research-based strategies. Translation services catering to the financial sector aid with necessary communication, documentation and transactions in order to meet client expectations and improve interactions.
Key Trends
Translation industry evolves amidst pandemic; digital access used to bridge gap between customers and coworkers
Moving towards a digital world has become vital for businesses adapting to the changes brought on by the pandemic. At the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, social distancing and lockdowns initiated a massive shift to virtual platforms, which resulted in a greater need for translation services. Businesses depending on supply chains located in the global markets required translations to assist with efficient communication strategies.
Enterprises that coordinated international partnerships and carried out dealings globally began prioritizing the need for a linguistic communication strategy with their clientele. This included websites, customer support calls, media and social media posts that required translation assistance. Post-pandemic, companies began to seek a greater set of skill requirements from translators, including:
- Skills in the artificial intelligence (AI) field - implementing machine translations and utilizing software tools that would increase the speed in translation processes.
- Skills in typing and drawing up business-related documents that would include working with translation management solutions, marketing automation tools, code repositories, video communication tools and data analytics.
- Specialization in the translation services sector in order to cater to certain niches. Translation niches would include working under specific sections in the industry such as medical, video games, web comics and novels, engineering and law.
Technological advancements leading to more efficient services; translations with faster turnaround and better accuracy
Adapting to social and customer requirements, the industry has taken great leaps into technological advancements, some of which include:
- Translation glossaries - an index providing specific key terms that offer an approved translation in all targeted languages. This enables customers in highly technical industries to achieve clarity and consistency within translations carried out.
- Translation Memory - a database used to store previously translated parts of texts, paragraphs and sentences. This reduces the time spent by organizations on individually translating words.
- AI - using specialised computer software algorithms that assist computers without the requirement of human help. Models and statistics are used to detect patterns that provide vast amounts of data ensuring greater accuracy. The use of machine learning and AI is mainly to assist translators and reduce time spent on the projects.
Human translators make comeback; inaccuracies detected within machine translations cause reluctance among customers
Technological advancements have led to businesses using AI, which has become increasingly popular among enterprises within the translation services sector in Singapore. Machine translations have existed in Singapore for more than 20 years and were predicted to replace human translations completely. This partially proved to be true within the sector due to AI taking precedence during the pandemic. Yet, human translators also became equally important for machine translations to be carried out and assessed.
As a means to assist citizen translators, the Ministry of Communications and Information has capitalized on the large volume of translated texts being sent out by the Government and is providing opportunities to improve the local translation services sector. The ministry’s recruitment of volunteer citizen translators began in 2020, for languages such as Mandarin, Malay and Tamil. The ministry also made use of an AI translation engine, SG Translate, to assist public officers.
In order to be vetted and refined, the ministry required the help of human translators especially when the need arose to send out large volumes of translated materials within a short frame of time. The need for translation services to communicate with the general public became a priority during the COVID-19 pandemic but this need still exists today.
The requirement of human assistance with linguistics within the translation sector in Singapore increased due to the fact that human translators out-performed AI translators in certain areas such as:
The language department, where language becomes subjective in its meaning. The final product would require human revision and checking due to errors that could stem from the fact that a well translated sentence may be subjected to a variety of opinions regarding the explanation related to such a sentence.
In certain instances where humour is depicted, machines would not be able to translate or detect the human trait, thus leading to human translation as a final stage.
Globalization, resulting in new less-known languages being translated. This resulted in localization taking precedence and more importance given to document translation types. With newer languages to be translated, sentence structures, terminologies and lingos are also being explored, all of which cannot be immediately shifted towards AI translation tools.
A majority of customers still find it hard to trust AI translators due to very specific requirements that arise in order to carry out machine translation. A vast amount of context and discipline is required in order to shift towards machine translation and this has resulted in reluctance within many corporations.
The sector has been going through slow changes but the need for human translators very much exists and will continue to be so. The main focus would be towards collaborative stances in order to create time-saving translating services that benefit both translators and customers.
Key Statistics
- In 2022, Singapore had the highest English proficiency rate in Asia, standing at 611.
- As of 2020, 65% of non-native English-speaking individuals showed preference to content being in their native tongue.
- Languages spoken in Singapore include English (32%), Mandarin (36%), Malay (12%), Indian languages (4%), Hokkien (7%), Cantonese (4%), Teochew (3%) and other languages (2%).
- As of 2022, 7,139 languages are being spoken globally, with new varieties being discovered.
- Chinese and Spanish come in second as the most used languages on the internet, at 19.8% and 8% respectively.
- A study done in 2021 showed that companies that translated their websites for countries such as China, the United States, Germany and Japan would help provide their businesses with 50% access to potential growth in sales.
Top Singapore MNCs in Translation Sector
RWS Group
RWS Group is headquartered in the UK, and provides services that include translation, transcreation, and content creation. With more than 7,500 people employed across the world - in the UK, USA, Europe, Asia, South America and Australia - RWS Group strives to help organizations connect with their audiences. Its range of specialized services and advanced technologies include: Localization, Content, Artificial Intelligence, and Intellectual Property Services. In South-East Asia, RWS Group is represented by SDL Multilingual Solutions in Singapore, which offers translation services and language solutions.
TransPerfect Translations
TransPerfect Translations is part of the TransPerfect Group of Companies, which enables global brands to speak to their customers in their local language. TransPerfect Translations offers translation services and solutions such as Translation Management Technology, Software and Mobile App Localisation, AI Data Collection and Annotation, and AI and Machine Translation. Its GlobalLink translation management system combines workflow automation, translation memory, project management, and app localisation as a one-stop shop for clients' translation and globalisation needs. TransPerfect's technology improves language, search and voice solutions, offering translation content at scale.
Lionbridge Tech
Lionbridge Tech is a translation and localisation service for global enterprises, which is headquartered in the US, with a presence across Asia and Europe as well. The company services sectors such as IT, Medical and Commercial. Lionbridge Tech undertakes the planning and production of websites, engages in staffing, and introduces foreign staff and interpreters. The company specialises in translation for life sciences and marketing, gaming localisation, and global services for machine intelligence. In 2017, Lionbridge Tech was awarded the Business Services Award at the Singapore Business Review (SBR) International Business Awards.
Amplexor Singapore
Amplexor Life Sciences is a provider of software solutions globally. In 2020, Amplexor merged with the Acolad Group - headquartered in France with over 45 offices worldwide - strengthening their position as a leading content and language service provider. Amplexor contributes expertise in content management and digital experience solutions to complement Acolad's presence in the US, Eastern Europe and DACH markets. In early 2022, Amplexor was rebranded as Acolad, offering Language Services, Translation Technology, Content Solutions and Digital Experience services. The company works within sectors such as Life Sciences, Manufacturing, High-Tech and Software.
THG Ingenuity
THG Ingenuity is a multinational company headquartered in Manchester, England, which offers solutions to global brands, and enables them to grow by investing in proprietary e-commerce, technology, operations, brand and data. THG Ingenuity Singapore has catered to clients such as Nestle, P&G and Hotel Chocolat, providing an effective and scalable direct-to-consumer retail model. The company aims to eliminate the cost and complexity of multi-partner relationships by offering global e-commerce solutions through a single SaaS relationship. THG Ingenuity offers Digital Solutions such as Content Creation Translation and Localisation, as well as Brand, Creative and Production services.
Valuepoint Knowledgeworks
Valuepoint Knowledgeworks is a language translation company headquartered in Bangalore, with a number of offices located across India, in Europe and Singapore. The company offers services such as translation, layout and interpretation, for individuals or businesses within the tourism and pharmaceutical industries. The ISO-certified company develops software for translation support and offers high-quality, fast and reliable services to its clients. Knowledgeworks covers Indian, Asian, Middle Eastern, European, Eastern European and African language translation services, covering over 15 Asian languages, and aiding the linguistic needs of businesses.
GloZ Inc.
GloZ Inc., formally known as Glocalize, is a translation service which is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, with branches in the US and Singapore. The company offers translation and subtitling services, and works with content creators, book publishers, educational institutions and the gaming sector. GloZ Inc. offers its services in over 200 countries, localising content in more than 60 languages. The company has worked with WEBTOONS, YouTube, movies and broadcasts, webnovels, e-books and education institutes with translation, interpretation and dubbing services. Its multilingual network is available in 53 languages, with customer support available across the US, Singapore and South Korea.
Top Singapore Large Local Enterprises in Translation Sector
Elite Asia
Elite Asia is a translation company headquartered in Singapore, with branches in Malaysia, Hong Kong and Japan. Amongst the solutions it offers are Business Meetings and Conferences, Business Localisation, and Multilingual Marketing. Elite Asia's technology includes Cloud Technology, Real-Time Project Collaboration, Data Encryption and Backup, Updated Translation Memories and Glossaries, AI Technology, and Secure and Reliable Communications. It services sectors such as Legal, MICE, Banking and Finance, Retail and E-Commerce, Technology and Manufacturing, Medical and Healthcare, Fintech, Tourism, Insurance, Media and Marketing, and Health, Wellness and Fitness.
Verztec
Repeated as per client
Top Singapore SMEs in Translation Sector
EQHO Globalization
EQHO Globalisation is a leading multilingual and multicultural communications solutions provider headquartered in Singapore. With branches in Thailand and Laos, the company has a special focus on Asian language services. It offers a range of solutions such as localisation services, corporate services, brand communication services, voiceover services and translation services. EQHO has worked with Siemens, IBM, Volvo, Dusit, BP, and Oracle, among others, offering them flexibility and scalability at a reasonable price. Its services include website development, multimedia localisation, studio production and voiceover artists, and the company uses AI-powered text-to-speech technology and automated translations.
Elionetwork
Elionetwork is a company that offers globalisation, localisation and creative services. It has established offices in Singapore, Thailand and Cambodia, and has a reach in five continents with over 55 languages. The company is ISO-certified and caters to IT, Telecom, Travel and Hospitality, Banking and Finance, Legal, Automotive, Education, Life Sciences, Manufacturing, and PR and Advertising sectors. Elionetwork's localisation solutions include translation, transcreation, DTP, multimedia and interpretation. It also offers creative services including copywriting, design, technical writing, digital marketing and filming. Aberdeen, ASUS, Microsoft, Deutsche Bank, Dyson, Kodak, JP Morgan and Meta (Facebook) are some of Elionetwork’s clients.
WhizWordz International
WhizWordz International is a company that serves as a communicator, bridging the gap between language and culture. The company offers its services in multiple languages for local and overseas clients. With copywriting, typesetting, interpretation, transcription, transcreation and website localisation services, WhizWordz caters to sectors such as Marketing, Medical, Finance, Insurance, Market Research, Education, Legal, Blockchain and Technical. The company’s clients range from startups to corporates and multinationals such as IKEA, Holiday Inn, Singapore Zoo, Changi Airport Group, AIA, Bread Talk, Singapore Airlines, and Unilever.
ACTC Translation
ACTC Translation Centre is a Singapore-based translation and interpretation company, covering over 40 languages. With its ISO certification and multiple accolades - including the Singapore Prestige Brand Award 2014 - ACTC Translation serves clients such as BMW, National University of Singapore, Zeiss, and Changi Airport Group. Among the company’s solutions are Translation, Interpretation, Software Localisation, DTP, Transcription, Copywriting and Multi-Language Courses. It is involved in the Literary, Insurance, HR, Energy, Construction, Medical, and Commerce sectors, as well as Government agencies for work related to birth and marriage certificates, among others. ACTC Translation Centre is the officially appointed translation agency by the United Nations in Singapore and the Singapore Government.
Lingua Technologies
Lingua Technologies is a translation service agency that offers translation, interpretation, transcription, live captioning, subtitles, pre-print and press management, voiceovers, editing and proofreading, and technical writing services. At present, the company covers over 18 languages and serves clients in industries such as Banking and Finance, Legal, Medical and Pharmaceutical, Consumer Electronics, and IT. Lingua Technologies' solutions include Certified Translations, Website Translation and Localisation, Translation Memory Management, and Software Translation and Localisation. Its clients include Barclays, Fujitec, GSK, Hitachi, McDonald's, Motorola, Porsche, Siemens and Zeiss among others.
Wordsburg Translations
Wordsburg Translations is a leading language services agency, covering over 100 languages, with offices in Singapore and the UK. It serves businesses and individuals for personal requirements such as visa and immigration, work permits, banking and more. Its translation expertise covers videos, food menus, and software apps. Banking and Finance, Travel, Legal, Government and NGOs, Health, Engineering, Digital and Education are among the sectors it serves. Wordsburg Translations include industry giants such as Marriott International, Discovery, Microsoft, and Deloitte. The company’s services extend to document translation and legalisation, interpretation, transcription, subtitling, voiceovers, and desktop publishing. Its awards include being selected as Singapore's Finest Translation Services.
Ace KnS
Ace KnS is a team of consultants, marketers and investors based in Singapore. It offers Digital Marketing, Translation Services and E-Commerce solutions. Letter Crafts Translations is Ace KnS' translation brand, and it offers affordable, quick and high-quality translation services for over 80 language pairs. Letter Crafts Translations provides translation services for Business and Personal Documents, Legal Documents, Technical and IT, Marketing, and Business Specific Translation, Certified Translation and Notarisation, Website and Apps Translation and Localisation, and Typesetting and Copywriting Documents. Letter Crafts has served clients such as Philips, Changi Airport Group, Deloitte, and the National University of Singapore.
Raffles Translation
Raffles Translation is a language services agency that offers translation services for, but is not limited to, Asian and European languages, numbering over 100. Its services include translation and transcreation, certified translations, interpreting services and translation-related services - including website localisation, transcription, voiceovers, subtitling, editing and proofreading, typesetting and more. The types of translations it offers include Legal, Technical, Business, Financial, Certified, Chinese Literary, Aviation/Shipping, and Life Sciences Translations. Raffles Translation was named in Media One's Top Translation Services in Singapore in 2022.
Translated Right
Translated Right is a Singapore-based translation service agency with a presence in the US. With over 50 languages supported and a quality guarantee, Translated Right boasts clients such as Marriott, Marina Bay Sands Singapore, Motorola, and more. Its services include translation services, website translations, proofreading, localisation, transcription and desktop publishing services. Translated Right is Singapore government agency compliant with a trusted service for passports, immigration documents, affidavits, and certificates of birth, death, marriage, divorce and diploma. At present, the company services sectors such as Financial, Legal, Software Localisation, Pharma and Medical, Media Publishing, Marketing, Government, Industrial and Engineering.
ASTT Translation
ASTT Translation is a registered company in Singapore, with a presence in the 10 ASEAN countries, and covering over 60 languages. The company offers services such as document translation, transcription, editing and proofreading, conferencing services, subtitling, interpretation, copywriting and desktop publishing. Professional Translation Services include Documents, Business, Legal, Financial, Medical and Website Translation Services. The company also serves individual clients with personal requirements such as document translations and language services. ASTT Translation promises affordable prices and professional translators and a quick turnaround time.
Top Singapore Fastest-Growing Companies in Translation Sector
Daniel McKinnon Translation
Daniel McKinnon Translation is a translation service agency based in Singapore. With a master's degree from Europe's leading translation school, ESIT, as well as undergraduate degrees in East Asian and Latin American Studies, Daniel McKinnon bridges cultural and linguistic gaps for organisations around the world. The agency offers translation services for over 20 languages, including European, Asian and other languages. The agency also offers proofreading, typesetting, editing, transcreation and localisation services. The company’s clientele includes the High Commission of Canada in Singapore, St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
Asian Absolute
Asian Absolute is a translation, localisation and marketing agency headquartered in London, with a presence in Singapore, Bangkok, Panama and Varna. The agency is ISO-certified and offers translation, interpretation, localisation, machine translation, and marketing services. Its expertise covers sectors such as Automotive, Legal, Publishing, Engineering, Real Estate, Insurance, Oil and Gas, Chemical, Life Sciences, Travel, E-Commerce, Banking and Finance, Manufacturing, Electronics, Education and more. Asian Absolute covers over 15 languages, and its clients include global giantsIKEA, Coca-Cola, HP, and Volkswagen.
EQHO Globalization
Repeated company (see SME #1)
THG Ingenuity
THG Ingenuity is a multinational company headquartered in Manchester, England, which offers solutions to global brands, and enables them to grow by investing in proprietary e-commerce, technology, operations, brand and data. THG Ingenuity Singapore has catered to clients such as Nestle, P&G and Hotel Chocolat, providing an effective and scalable direct-to-consumer retail model. The company aims to eliminate the cost and complexity of multi-partner relationships by offering global e-commerce solutions through a single SaaS relationship. THG Ingenuity offers Digital Solutions such as Content Creation Translation and Localisation, as well as Brand, Creative and Production services.
RWS Group
RWS Group is headquartered in the UK, and provides services that include translation, transcreation, and content creation. With more than 7,500 people employed across the world - in the UK, USA, Europe, Asia, South America and Australia - RWS Group strives to help organizations connect with their audiences. Its range of specialized services and advanced technologies include: Localization, Content, Artificial Intelligence, and Intellectual Property Services. In South-East Asia, RWS Group is represented by SDL Multilingual Solutions in Singapore, which offers translation services and language solutions.
Verztec
Repeated company (see LLE #2)
Lionbridge Tech
Lionbridge Tech is a translation and localisation service for global enterprises, which is headquartered in the US, with a presence across Asia and Europe as well. The company services sectors such as IT, Medical and Commercial. Lionbridge Tech undertakes the planning and production of websites, engages in staffing, and introduces foreign staff and interpreters. The company specialises in translation for life sciences and marketing, gaming localisation, and global services for machine intelligence. In 2017, Lionbridge Tech was awarded the Business Services Award at the Singapore Business Review (SBR) International Business Awards.