What does a business do to stay in touch and share documents with its people when those people – industry specialists based (in the target country) abroad– are spread across the globe? CINETIQUE Translations, a company that provides expert translation services faces just such a challenge and turned to Yuuguu to solve the problem.

Founded in 2002 by Laurence Auffret, a biologist and translation lecturer at Manchester University, CINETIQUE Translations was set up to combine the two specialist skills of science and translation to produce a thriving business that specialises in offering translation services to the technological, scientific and engineering communities.

CINETIQUE Translations’ work includes: websites and user interfaces; conference publications, presentations and training modules; installation, operating, and maintenance manuals; and patents, claims, EU compliance documentation and tender documents.

All this kind of work requires the utmost accuracy but a key issue in terms of translation in general - and technological, scientific and academic translation in particular – is to generate translations that do not just do the job in literal terms, but are able to translate the exact sense, meaning, and phrasing of any work. In other words, all translations must mean precisely the same ‘thing’ as in the original document. In CINETIQUE Translations’ fields of expertise this means it is essential that translators are fluent, not just in the requisite languages, but also the information contained in the original documents, as well as how that same information needs to be communicated in the target market.

To help achieve this, CINETIQUE Translations uses ultra-specialist translators, they live and work in their home territory and in the specific industry. It also researches any documents that it produces thoroughly, often running them past focus groups, which are themselves based in the target territory. That all means that effective sharing tools – like web conferencing – would be vital. But, they are also expensive, complex to set up and time-consuming. CINETIQUE Translations is using Yuuguu to contact its in-country consultants – and sample groups – simply. It also uses Yuuguu to share documents and enable live document editing and note-making through the screen-sharing and control features.

The benefits, says Laurence Auffret, are obvious: “Our translations are done by industry experts who live in the country where the translated document is going to be used. Firstly, it’s really important for us to be able to discuss documentation as a team - publisher, client, translator, editor, project manager - in real-time”.

“Also, team meetings always take place online and we need to share our views on certain aspects of the documents, in real-time. So, we screen-share and one person can add on another linguist’s work – it’s a great tool.”

As an instant messaging tool, Yuuguu is simple to download and use and can instantly connect up to 30 contacts in one conversation at a time. This can be turned easily into a phone conferencing conversation using the Yuuguu phone number and code in the message window.

But, for CINETIQUE Translations, the most useful aspect is the screen-sharing technology. While engaged in a conversation, any user can ask to see another user’s desktop on their own computer. Once allowed, they can view and control their screen, plus – using the special annotation tool – make notes on another user’s documents.

The ability to share a document with multiple users without the need to use email or central folders such as web-based document software has been key, particularly when it comes to testing documents with volunteer sample groups in international markets.

Laurence Auffret explains: “This week, we tested information leaflets in Canada and, within two working days, we managed to speak to a 20-strong group of Canadian respondents. From this, we assessed areas of improvement, and the document was finalised within hours - the client approved it right away. The turnaround of this type of project has been reduced by a third since we’ve used Yuuguu and confidentiality is ensured as we do not need to email the document to volunteers anymore.”

Among CINETIQUE Translations’ client base, the use of Yuuguu has been a massive hit. A Yuuguu client for two years, Laurence says that most of her clients have now adopted it. Although not willing to talk in detail about any of her clients, she says that one, a major pharmaceuticals business, makes enormous cost-savings on translation services thanks to the use of Yuuguu.

In terms of day-to-day issues, the ease-of-use and reliability of Yuuguu put it ahead of alternatives. Laurence comments: “Yuuguu is more stable and very easy to get to grip with for first time users.”

She adds: “Yuuguu is a significant step forward for our international communication. It simplifies real-time communication with my translators, editors, industry specialists, publishers and clients and the screen-sharing is an invaluable tool to help us see how the translated documents will be perceived in the target country. Also, the stability of the system means it is always at hand. All in all, Yuuguu has offered us substantial benefits.”