Translation management system like XTRF can largely streamline the process of handling translation projects and increase the working efficiency of project managers so that they can mange more projects.
In this article, you will see how exactly XTRF is helping project mangers as well as vendors and clients in the whole process. And this article will also talk about the improvements and shortcomings of this website. Hope you could have a clearer understanding of what translation management system (or XTRF) is after you finish reading this article!
Here are several advantages and disadvantages of XTRF:
- PM Portal, Client Portal and Vendor Portal
XTRF has three different portals: PM Portal, Client Portal and Vendor Portal.
[PM portal]
[Vendor portal]
[Client portal]
As you can see from the screen shots above, each portal has a different color and a different format so that people can easily find out which portal they are using.
- Saving time of creating quotes and POs
XTRF can save PM time in creating quotes and POs. In the XTRF website, it can automatically generate the quotes and PO in a uniformed format, which you can see from the example screen shot below. XTRF can largely increase the efficiency for PMs when creating quotes and POs.
[Quote]
- Checking vendor availability and assigning works to vendor more easily
[Vendor]
In the PM portal, you can see a list of vendors, their overall evaluation, languages combination and other contacting information. You can either assign a job to a specific person by searching his/her name in the “Text” box at the top left of the page, or you can assign the work to a range of vendors and set the rule that the person who accept the work first can get the job.
By doing this, you do not need to spend a lot of time checking your contact book and call each of your vendor and check their availability. XTRF will automatically send them an email announcing them this job, and they can accept it by clicking the link provided in the email.
- Preparing and sending files
[Managing projects]
As you can see in the PM portal page, PM can manage different projects at the same time. Without the help of XTRF, it is very possible that they will miss a document or send the wrong document to the wrong person. However, by using XTRF, you can upload the file you want the vendor to translate on the platform. After the vendor translated the document, he/she can upload the translated document on the platform so that the proofreader can start his/her job as soon as the vendor upload the document.
- Better transparency for clients
Using XTRF can help the client know the progress of the whole project and create a sense of transparency for them.
- In case of emergency…
As a PM, there will be some time when you need to help your client or your vendor do their job. For example, your client told you he/she cannot access to the Internet or he/she knows nothing about XTRF. In order to save more time and help everything go smoothly, you can sign in the vendor portal and client portal and help them do their works.
However, it might be confusing and difficult for the PM to log in as a vendor or client because the “secret path” might be difficult to find.
[sign in as the vendor]
[sign in as the client]
- Price and competitors
XTRF is very powerful, but it is also not cheap.
[XTRF price]
As you can see from the screen shot above, it costs $129 per user per month.
In the market, there are other similar translation project manager systems like SDL TMS and Smartling Translation Management System. The latter is free for translators and agencies.
[competitors]
So for smaller translation agencies, although XTRF can largely improve the working efficiency, spending so much money on platforms such as XTRF may be a tough choice.
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