Globalization Management System
Encyclopedia
A Globalization Management System or GMS automates transactions to reduce the time and money employed by manpower performing repetitive, non-productive labour. Thus, human resources can be redeployed to more productive and strategic tasks. A GMS generally includes at least two types of technology: process management technology to automate the flow of work, and linguistic technology to aid the translator.
industry, these solutions are also known as Globalization Management Systems (GMS) or Global Content Management Systems (GCMS). They work with Content Management System
s (CMS) as separate, but linked programs or as simple add-ons that can answer specific multilingual requirements.
CMS excels at process management while ignoring business management and translation tools, which are strongholds of TMS.
A typical TMS workflow goes through the following steps:
Change detection of updated or new materials is a must either with standard off-the-shelf CMSs or with the use of custom-developed connectors in the case of proprietary systems. Content is automatically extracted from the CMS and packaged for transmission to the TMS. In some cases, file manipulation may be needed for later analysis and translation. Project managers customise workflows to match their business needs. Every participant in the workflow receives a notification where there is new work to be done, and a unique number is assigned to every project and every task for traceability
. Translators and revisers work either online or offline and their queries and comments are tracked through the system. Translators or revisers receive comments from the customer's in-country reviewers to verify and implement any corrections. After the documents are approved, the TM is automatically updated for later reuse. Finally, the translated materials are returned into their CMS for publishing and productivity and efficiency metrics are available through reports.
Linguistic technology generally includes at least translation memory
and terminology
database; some systems also integrate machine translation
technology. Translation memory
is a database of all previously translated sentences. While a translator performs translation, he or she is automatically prompted with similar sentences from the memory that were previously translated. A terminology database is a glossary that contains specific words and phrases and their context-appropriate translations. A machine translation system is a program that uses natural language processing
technology to automatically translate a text from one language to another.
and thebigword are examples of this captive solution.
Content producers with preferred or previous language service agreements to third LSPs may prefer to maintain their independence and purchase software licences only. However, a combined option of technology solution and language services in one package is bound to be more cost effective. Similarly, LSPs may prefer to contact technology vendors who are not part of the competition, offering also language services. Many LSPs got nervous when SDL
bought Trados in 2005, becoming the biggest translation technology provider, while still having language services as part of their activities.
Of course, the two above possibilities are only extremes and the market requires more flexible solutions. For instance, the LSP Moravia Worldwide
announced in 2007 a partnership with TMS developer Idiom Worldserver to remain independent and still provide added value to their customers. Similarly, Sajan offers different licences to their solution, separating their language and their technology services in different degrees.
Naming
Although Translation Management Systems (TMS) seems to be the currently favoured term in the localizationLanguage localisation
Language localisationThe spelling "localization", a variant of "localisation", is the preferred spelling in the US and Canada. is the second phase of a larger process of product translation and cultural adaptation to account for...
industry, these solutions are also known as Globalization Management Systems (GMS) or Global Content Management Systems (GCMS). They work with Content Management System
Content management system
A content management system is a system providing a collection of procedures used to manage work flow in a collaborative environment. These procedures can be manual or computer-based...
s (CMS) as separate, but linked programs or as simple add-ons that can answer specific multilingual requirements.
Overview
A TMS typically connects to a CMS to manage foreign language content. It tends to address the following categories in different degrees, depending on each offering:- Business management: Project management, Resource management, Financial management. This category is traditionally related to Enterprise Resource PlanningEnterprise resource planningEnterprise resource planning systems integrate internal and external management information across an entire organization, embracing finance/accounting, manufacturing, sales and service, customer relationship management, etc. ERP systems automate this activity with an integrated software application...
(ERP) tools. - Process management: WorkflowWorkflowA workflow consists of a sequence of connected steps. It is a depiction of a sequence of operations, declared as work of a person, a group of persons, an organization of staff, or one or more simple or complex mechanisms. Workflow may be seen as any abstraction of real work...
, Collaboration, Content connectors. This category is traditionally the domain of specialised project management tools. - Language management: Integrated translation memory, Webtop translation tools, Customer review and markup. This is traditionally performed with specialised translation tools.
CMS excels at process management while ignoring business management and translation tools, which are strongholds of TMS.
Features & Benefits
The measurable benefits of using a TMS are similar to those found in a CMS, but with a multilingual twist: the localization workflow is automated, thus reducing management and overhead costs and time for everyone involved; localization costs are reduced, time to market is decreased and translation quality improves; finally, the cooperation between headquarters and national branches increases thanks to more thorough reporting.A typical TMS workflow goes through the following steps:
Change detection of updated or new materials is a must either with standard off-the-shelf CMSs or with the use of custom-developed connectors in the case of proprietary systems. Content is automatically extracted from the CMS and packaged for transmission to the TMS. In some cases, file manipulation may be needed for later analysis and translation. Project managers customise workflows to match their business needs. Every participant in the workflow receives a notification where there is new work to be done, and a unique number is assigned to every project and every task for traceability
Traceability
Traceability refers to the completeness of the information about every step in a process chain.The formal definition: Traceability is the ability to chronologically interrelate uniquely identifiable entities in a way that is verifiable....
. Translators and revisers work either online or offline and their queries and comments are tracked through the system. Translators or revisers receive comments from the customer's in-country reviewers to verify and implement any corrections. After the documents are approved, the TM is automatically updated for later reuse. Finally, the translated materials are returned into their CMS for publishing and productivity and efficiency metrics are available through reports.
Linguistic technology generally includes at least translation memory
Translation memory
A translation memory, or TM, is a database that stores so-called "segments", which can be sentences or sentence-like units that have previously been translated. A translation memory system stores the words, phrases and paragraphs that have already been translated, in order to aid human translators...
and terminology
Terminology
Terminology is the study of terms and their use. Terms are words and compound words that in specific contexts are given specific meanings, meanings that may deviate from the meaning the same words have in other contexts and in everyday language. The discipline Terminology studies among other...
database; some systems also integrate machine translation
Machine translation
Machine translation, sometimes referred to by the abbreviation MT is a sub-field of computational linguistics that investigates the use of computer software to translate text or speech from one natural language to another.On a basic...
technology. Translation memory
Translation memory
A translation memory, or TM, is a database that stores so-called "segments", which can be sentences or sentence-like units that have previously been translated. A translation memory system stores the words, phrases and paragraphs that have already been translated, in order to aid human translators...
is a database of all previously translated sentences. While a translator performs translation, he or she is automatically prompted with similar sentences from the memory that were previously translated. A terminology database is a glossary that contains specific words and phrases and their context-appropriate translations. A machine translation system is a program that uses natural language processing
Natural language processing
Natural language processing is a field of computer science and linguistics concerned with the interactions between computers and human languages; it began as a branch of artificial intelligence....
technology to automatically translate a text from one language to another.
Future
Future trends in TMSs include:- interoperation with more CMS offerings: content managers should be able to order translations within their own environment
- tie in with text authoring environments: for existing multilingual content leverage against new writing
- incorporation of business management functions: to preview the localization cost and timeframe
- integration with enterprise systems: general ledger applications and sales force automation tools
Target Markets and Licensing
TMS vendors target two main buyers when marketing and selling their products. On the one hand, software developer-only companies attract content producers, and sell their offering with no strings attached. On the other hand, software developers can also be Language Service Providers (LSPs), so they offer their language services over their custom-made technological offering for easier customer integration. The latter is commonly referred to as a captive solution, meaning that buyers must use the TMS developer's language services in order to take advantage of their platform. LionbridgeLionbridge
Lionbridge Technologies, Inc. commonly known as Lionbridge, is a company based in Waltham, Massachusetts, USA that provides translation, localization, internationalization, interpretation, content development, software development, and software testing services...
and thebigword are examples of this captive solution.
Content producers with preferred or previous language service agreements to third LSPs may prefer to maintain their independence and purchase software licences only. However, a combined option of technology solution and language services in one package is bound to be more cost effective. Similarly, LSPs may prefer to contact technology vendors who are not part of the competition, offering also language services. Many LSPs got nervous when SDL
SDL International
SDL plc is a global company with headquarters based in Maidenhead, UK that provides language localization services and translation and content management software...
bought Trados in 2005, becoming the biggest translation technology provider, while still having language services as part of their activities.
Of course, the two above possibilities are only extremes and the market requires more flexible solutions. For instance, the LSP Moravia Worldwide
Moravia IT
Moravia IT is a company based in Brno, Czech Republic that provides translation, localization and testing services. It has over 450 employees worldwide and 8 offices in the US, Ireland, Japan, China, Argentina, Hungary and Czech Republic....
announced in 2007 a partnership with TMS developer Idiom Worldserver to remain independent and still provide added value to their customers. Similarly, Sajan offers different licences to their solution, separating their language and their technology services in different degrees.
See also
- TranslationTranslationTranslation is the communication of the meaning of a source-language text by means of an equivalent target-language text. Whereas interpreting undoubtedly antedates writing, translation began only after the appearance of written literature; there exist partial translations of the Sumerian Epic of...
- Internationalization and localizationInternationalization and localizationIn computing, internationalization and localization are means of adapting computer software to different languages, regional differences and technical requirements of a target market...
- Content management systemContent management systemA content management system is a system providing a collection of procedures used to manage work flow in a collaborative environment. These procedures can be manual or computer-based...
- Machine translationMachine translationMachine translation, sometimes referred to by the abbreviation MT is a sub-field of computational linguistics that investigates the use of computer software to translate text or speech from one natural language to another.On a basic...
- TerminologyTerminologyTerminology is the study of terms and their use. Terms are words and compound words that in specific contexts are given specific meanings, meanings that may deviate from the meaning the same words have in other contexts and in everyday language. The discipline Terminology studies among other...
Software solutions
- Translations.com GlobalLink Product Suite http://www.translations.com/products.html
- Across Language Server
- GlobalSightGlobalSightGlobalSight is an open source Translation Management System released under the Apache License 2.0. As of version 7.1 it supports the TMX and SRX 2.0 Localization Industry Standards Association standards. It was developed in the Java programming language and uses a MySQL database...
- Plunet BusinessManager - Business and Translation Management System
- Ontram Translation Management System
- PootlePootlePootle is an online translation management tool with translation interface. It is written in the Python programming language using the Django framework and is free software originally developed and released by Translate.org.za in 2004...
- Sajan GCMS
- SDL TMS
- Straker Enterprise Translation Portal
- Merrill Brink iTrac TMS