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Translation Memory Survey 2004

Overview
Significant Findings
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Overview

In 2002 LISA captured a snapshot of trends in Translation Memory (TM) usage and trends with its ground-breaking LISA 2002 Translation Memory Survey. With the release of the LISA 2004 Translation Memory Survey, the Localization Industry Standards Association (LISA) has once again delivered primary research proving how language technology helps companies reduce costs and reach an ROI on their investment in international market development.

According to Michael Anobile, LISA’s Managing Director, “The findings of the 2004 Translation Memory (TM) Survey illustrate how Translation Memory technology is changing the scope of what companies can achieve globally. TM helps enterprises reach local markets faster, easier and at less cost. Companies that have not already implemented TM are now at a competitive disadvantage in the global marketplace.”

The survey’s author, Arle Lommel, explains, “Today, TM technology isn’t just about saving a dollar here or a euro there. This year’s survey revealed that companies may have originally introduced TM as a tactic to gain savings in localization costs, but they have come to rely on it as a strategy to gain market advantage through improved quality and faster time-to-market than they could otherwise achieve.”

Conducted online from August through October 2004, the LISA 2004 Translation Memory Survey, provides the most up-to-date view of Translation Memory (TM) technology implementation available. With responses from more than 270 companies, results indicate an expanding TM market, with many companies increasing TM usage as a strategy to reduce costs and improve time-to-market. The survey addresses translation volumes, TM usage rates, TM repository sizes, tools choice, the role of standards and future trends in TM implementation.

Significant Findings

The majority of companies are planning to extend their use of TM technology
The majority of those using TM tools use it for at least half of their localization needs
Companies with relatively low annual localization requirements use TM tools for significantly more of their content than do those with comparatively large localization requirements
Typical TM repositories contain 300,000–370,000 segments, but users report repositories with as few as 2,000 and as many as 100,000,000 segments
Although dominated by a few products, the TM market remains highly competitive with many niche, as well as general, TM tools in use. The most widely used TM tools are TRADOS, followed by SDLX, Deja Vu and Alchemy Catalyst
Users of internally-developed TM systems have the largest TM repositories, averaging five times more TM data than those using commercial tools