Medical device translation: how to avoid the most common challenges

Marketing any medical device on a global scale involves a product strategy that requires language translation and localisation. Many countries impose directives that require companies to translate product information into the language of the local user. The question for medical device manufacturers is not whether or not they need to translate for their target markets, it is how do they meet all language requirements in the most cost-effective, regulatory compliant manner.

Medical device translation main issues and how to address them:

Managing regulations and translations are critical aspects of gaining global market share and beating the competition. However, there are common pitfalls that most companies experience when trying to localise content for their medical devices. Quality, timeliness, and cost are the most common issues that medical device companies face. They must develop a solid process for translation to avoid product delays, launches, or public relations disasters.

At CPSL we know all about the most common challenges in medical device translation and how to address them…

1. How can companies deal with poor translation quality?

For  medical device companies, the quality of the translations can be a safety concern and is extremely important. For this reason, many companies are choosing translation partners that specialise in life sciences. It is crucial that translators understand the subject matter and can effectively communicate in their target market. Specialisation is a key factor in determining competence because they provide subject matter expertise, which lends itself to higher quality translations. Specialists understand the terminology and have the medical background to provide accurate glossaries, consistent translations, and correct terminology in the local language. Companies that choose a translation partner that has a medical validator for the translated content succeed because they know an expert has approved their materials.

2.What can help speed up time to market for medical device translations?

A fast time to market is a key competitive strategy for medical device manufacturers. They want to get their products to market first so they can gain market share. However, translations can add additional time to an already difficult process. It is crucial that companies choose a linguistic partner expert that manages the project for them and ensures that timelines and budget are met. It is important to have a dedicated project manager that manages translations, vendors, and quality assurance. By working with a vendor that has in-country translators and workflows in place to manage projects, companies benefit by getting their translations ordered, submitted, and approved faster.

3.How can companies keep localisation costs down?

Many companies try to cut costs by working with their in-country distributors rather than a professional linguistic provider. However, the distributors are not expert translators and oftentimes, the quality of the translation is poor. When the quality of the translation is questionable, companies have to rework the translations or provide feedback that helps the translator understand the content better. This ultimately adds time and cost to the process. Companies that work with translation memories and subject matter experts need less communication about the meaning of the content and translations are delivered faster and more accurately. Additionally, they are able to maintain version control and use Translation Memory technology to keep the translation up to date.

4.Are you ready to test the water?

If you are a company who has never worked with a translation agency before, and being unsure of the process of file evaluation and quotation has put you off to date, why not give us a try to see how things are done? We will gladly evaluate your source files, explain the process and prepare a no-obligation quote for your information. It could be the start of a beneficial relationship and your global expansion!