By now, it is no secret that globally sourcing your company's products can improve your productivity, efficiency and bottom line. From time to time, however, language barriers can get in the way and interfere with an otherwise fluid process. Ranging between simple miscommunications to cultural faux pas, language barriers and “lost in translation” moments can cause international business relationships to come to an abrupt stop.
Anticipating and planning ahead for these potential language issues before they arise is crucial for continued success and uninterrupted business. Therefore, putting together a strategy that will support you in the event of language barriers will help you weather these tough situations. Follow these strategies and find a balance that makes sense for you to help overcome language barriers with your global sourcing partners:
1. Translate all critical documents into the local language. In anticipation of entering into an international business partnership, take stock of the basic documents that will establish and nurture the new partnership. Documents to consider include (though aren’t necessarily limited to) legal contracts, sourcing guidelines, company and background information, and operating agreements. Find an expert to help you translate these documents into the local language. Doing so sets a balanced tone from the start and ensures that both parties are aligned from the get-go. Translated documents allow for transparency, giving all involved a clear frame of reference moving ahead. If at any point, disagreement or confusion arises, these translated documents serve as “reset” baselines.
2. Utilize multiple channels for communication. Best practices recommend that one of the most effective strategies for overcoming language barriers is creating redundant systems. In other words, if you’re frequently hosting conference or Skype calls with your international partners, follow those calls up with summary emails that outline the major takeaways from each call. These emails then serve as a reliable paper trail, enabling both sides to document key items of discussion and business. Furthermore, by spreading the means by which you communicate across various medium, both you and your partner gain valuable insight into who the other “is,” giving your relationship a more solid footing than may otherwise be attained if limited to one static means by which to communicate. Even simply hearing a colleague’s voice helps to build strong relationships.
3. Partner with sourcing firms that have language capabilities: Selecting a global sourcing partner that has language and translation capabilities is a must and will set you on the path for clear communication from Day 1. Your sourcing partner should be able to navigate your sourcing market with conversational and cultural fluency, as well as have the ability to translate written documents as part of the process. Premier firms provide this support to clients as part of their ongoing relationship and can provide superior support at a reasonable price when special translation needs arise.
If you’re contemplating launching a global sourcing initiative, Mawson Global can help. Contact us to discuss your business, your sourcing goals and how our services can make it easier to navigate the process today.