Translation: Far More Than Words — A True Mark of Quality in International Business

A poorly understood technical translation can derail an entire project.I remember a Franco-German exchange where a simple misinterpretation of a raw material specification caused major delays in the production of the initial samples.The result: several weeks lost, testing schedules disrupted, and postponed production.And as everyone in industry knows — time is money.

This incident perfectly illustrates how a precise translation isn’t just about vocabulary, but about quality, rigor, and operational reliability.

When a Bad Technical Translation Can Cost You Dearly

In another project, a client forgot to specify that the steel parts bound for the United States would be shipped by sea.This detail — missing from the translated specifications — had disastrous consequences: the parts arrived oxidized after several weeks at sea.The loss was estimated at more than $350,000.I had to fight to prove that the French company was not at fault, but that the problem stemmed from the omission of the final destination in the original documentation.

Situations like this show that translation is not a formality, but a key element of contractual security and dispute prevention.

Translation, Precision, and Rigor: The Key to Smooth Communication Between Clients and Suppliers

A good translation connects different worlds:that of the German technician, precise to the last word,the French engineer, attentive to phrasing,and the American client, focused on results.

Every term must be accurate to ensure mutual understanding and terminological consistency across teams.This mastered trilingual communication helps prevent delays, misunderstandings, and financial losses.

From Translation to Trust: The Expertise That Prevents Disputes

At DB Assist’, translation is an integral part of the quality process.It supports audits, supplier validations, and technical reports, ensuring shared understanding among all stakeholders.A reliable translation strengthens trust — and sometimes, it simply saves a project before it goes off the rails.

✅ In short:Translation is not a formality — it’s a quality assurance tool in its own right.Because between “material specification” and “shipping condition,” the nuance may seem small… but the consequences can be major.

I’m Delphine Baum, founder of DB Assist’.I support business leaders in their administrative, commercial, and quality management processes, in France and abroad.