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Spotlight: Alison Rowles
LISA announced its new Executive Advisory Board last fall. We are pleased that Alison Rowles, Director of SMP Marketing Sarl in Switzerland, has joined to lend her global marketing expertise. Rowles, formerly LISA’s Controller and Business Manager, launched SMP Marketing in 1999 to provide localization industry marketing support for the association and other industry participants. Her previous 20+ years in international business include serving as Founder and Managing Director for Boxmart, SA, an international on-line trading network, and global management positions with various computer and office systems companies such as Exxon. Previous association experience includes the development and launch of EDI-Mart, a consortium of EDI vendors and suppliers. As she explains below, Rowles has joined the board because she wants to contribute to LISA at the strategic level, in addition to serving as its outsourcing partner. You can reach her at ahrowles@lisa.org with your ideas and comments.
INSIDER: What are the two most critical issues facing the language technology industry right now? The industry has been unable to develop or adhere to standards such as TMX, TBX or XLIFF. The first is its lack of definition as an industry – it remains far too fragmented, and as a result, risks being absorbed by the Content Management sector – which, as an example, is where IDC reports it. The second issue is its inability to develop or adhere to standards such as TMX, TBX or XLIFF. The use and adaptation of these standards on a broader scale will eventually make the localization process more uniform and much easier for consumers to manage. INSIDER: Where are the new growth sectors for the language technology industry today? In other vertical markets outside of IT, the adoption and use of language technology is still far behind. The industry should remain focused on its ongoing penetration of vertical markets, such as the automotive and (growing) pharmaceutical sectors, where the adoption and use of language technology is still far behind where it is today in IT. INSIDER: What technical or business process standards will drive the industry forward? Where do open standards fit in? I predict that TBX will move to the forefront. I predict that TBX will move to the forefront, as global business comes to grips with requirements for open term bases in all industry sectors. The lack of such a standard today is creating difficulties for exporters because it prevents EDI from meeting language needs. This problem has simply been exacerbated as much of the trade and transport process has moved onto the internet. INSIDER: Why have you joined the LISA Board? I want to contribute to LISA at the strategic level. Because I have both a vested interest in LISA, and a deep and abiding belief in the growing success of this industry. I want to contribute to LISA at the strategic level, in addition to serving as its outsourcing partner. INSIDER: What should LISA’s three top objectives be for the next twelve months?
INSIDER: As an industry association, what three concrete actions can LISA take right now to better meet the needs of its two main constituencies, clients and service providers?
INSIDER: If the Board (along with LISA members) is successful, how will LISA be different eighteen months from now? LISA will have achieved a much broader reach by highlighting the requirement for language and language technologies through liaisons with other industry trade groups, governments and educational institutions. This will result in an expanded membership, which will in turn increase the association’s revenues and thus its ability to implement additional programs, drive standards and further develop its repository of industry. |
LISA Business Data Forum Summaries and Presentations LISA Globalization Consulting Network Webinars and TouchPoint Advisory Calls LISA Forum USA LISA@Chinasoft Fair LISA Forum Asia LISA Forum Europe LISA Forum India Open Standards • TBX • TMX |
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