Blog – News and language tips

The AI revolution has completely transformed the translation industry. Powerful LLMs have changed how organisations deal with multilingual content. Unlike a decade ago, automated translation output has achieved a certain level of quality and consistency. Hence, clients and organisations are looking at AI as a fast and easy way to keep translations in-house. The question is thus: Are Large Language Models (LLMs) good enough to handle professional-grade translations?

For international organisations, clear HR communications are essential. Changes in policy, new terms of employment, wellbeing initiatives or internal changes often need to be communicated simultaneously to employees in different countries. And that is not always straightforward.

Companies are increasingly producing content in multiple languages. Think of product descriptions, knowledge bases, websites, apps, and customer communications. Manually exporting, translating, and re-importing all that content not only takes a great deal of time, but also increases the risk of errors. The solution? API integrations. This has existed for many years, but in the current AI climate automation is becoming increasingly important.

The translation world has changed drastically in recent years. Whereas companies used to automatically turn to a translation agency in the past, it seems a logical choice in 2026 to use an LLM or AI translation technology. But does this mean that human translators have become redundant? We are happy to set everything out clearly for you.

Artificial intelligence has changed what's possible in language services. Many of the tasks that once required days of careful human work, such as translation, quality review, and formatting, can be done much faster. The question is whether we want to hand AI full control over all these tasks. At ELAN Languages, the answer is clear: no. We firmly believe in the "human-in-control" principle.

Our health might just be our most precious gift. Which is why accurate medical translations are of the utmost importance, as they can have a direct impact on someone’s well-being. Over the past few months, we have rolled out our ELAN AI Bridge and are fully embracing the newest technological feats. However, we remain convinced that AI works best when there is a human in the loop, and nowhere is this more important than in the medical field. We spoke with two of our internal medical proofreaders, Anja Thys (English proofreader) and Kim Hoebrechts (Dutch proofreader) about how they approach their medical translations.

In many organisations, translation still happens outside the workflow. Content is copied between systems, files are exported and re-uploaded, and teams spend time managing versions instead of moving projects forward. This slows everything down. The challenge is rarely the translation itself but rather the fact that systems don't talk to each other.

This month, we’ve been highlighting legal translations in all their facets: the risks, the expertise required, how the rules differ from country to country, the major pitfalls, how technology can help experienced translators, etc. Sure, it’s been interesting to read, but haven’t we blown it out of proportion? Are the actual consequences really that bad? The answers are simple: no and yes, respectively.

Translating legal texts is always risky business: loss of meaning, ambiguity, and misinterpretation lurk around the corner constantly. Risk awareness and risk management are of the utmost importance. Therefore, a good legal translation partner is vital for businesses and organisations that want to avoid a myriad of problems, such as financial losses, legal issues, ambiguous contractual clauses, etc.

What is the state of artificial intelligence (AI) today and how can ELAN Languages’ tailored solutions help organisations that want to break through internationally via their content? We asked Jourik Ciesielski, Chief Technology Officer at ELAN Languages and founder of the company C-Jay International.

International markets open doors to growth. But those who want to convince those international markets need to do so in multiple languages. Your products, services, and brand stories must have equal impact in every language. At the same time, the clock is ticking mercilessly: time, budget and resources for translations are limited. So the key question for any entrepreneur is: how do you combine speed and quality without derailing your budget or diluting your multilingual message? Our answer: by coupling the power of artificial intelligence (AI) with human expertise. You can read how that works here.

Not every translation assignment is straightforward. Annual reports, for example, come with their own set of challenges. Financial terms must be conveyed with absolute precision. Deadlines must be met to the letter. Specialist jargon must be applied consistently. Sensitive data must be handled securely. Each annual report is a unique puzzle that demands precision, speed and discretion.

Simultaneous and consecutive interpreting – these remain the most popular methods in which most companies place their trust for international communication. But what if you're looking for a more practical or budget-friendly alternative? In that case, whispered interpreters, relay interpreters or conversational interpreters can offer a fitting solution.

Ready to conquer new markets with your online shop? Carefully considering your approach is key, which is exactly where things tend to go wrong. Language proves to be a stumbling block more often than one might think. You won't reach international customers with a simple translation of your homepage or product descriptions.

In order to truly connect and sell across borders, you’ll need a smart translation strategy. One that takes cultural and technical differences into account, on top of linguistic accuracy.

Search engine optimisation - or SEO for short - has never followed set rules. On the contrary: the rules of the game are constantly changing under the influence of technological developments as well as user expectations. Those who want to score online need to offer relevant information in a variety of formats, adapted to the cultural context and with a trust factor – and all this across language borders.

Yet another challenge is due for 2025: search engines increasingly answer user queries with AI-generated summaries. These are so good that people often don’t need to click through to other websites anymore.

The key question is: how do you get your content into that smart AI summary? So, here they are: 3 SEO tips for 2025, to ensure you stay visible on the web in the future!

Picture this: you notice that your new promotional video on your website is reaching your target audience. Mission accomplished! Or is it? Because what if (potential) clients cannot listen to the sound of your video due to certain circumstances? Without subtitles, they miss the message and you lose them... This is one of the many opportunities that you might miss, without even realising it. Because did you know that worldwide, one out of four people deal with a (temporary) disability? And thus may struggle to understand your message?

Do you address your international audiences in English? You are not the only one. On the contrary. Many companies assume that everyone speaks English. Their reasoning goes something like this: "If we offer our content on the website, on social media and in leaflets in English, we're home safe." Sounds reasonable enough, but it doesn’t stand up to scrutiny. After all, language is much more than a means of conveying WHAT you have to say. It also affects HOW your message is received, interpreted and assessed.

The connection forged with your target audience through your brand, your story, and your products and services is primarily emotional; a bond that is easier to build in their mother tongue. A foreign language, however familiar, speaks to us on a more rational level - leaving our emotions less affected. Just one reason why you want to translate your content to the languages of your target audience. But there are four more reasons. Explore them here!

Do you create video material for your business? You’ll know how powerful the right voice can be to really drive home your message for your target audience. In this blog post, we will show you what to look out for when choosing a voice-over. With practical tips, we will help you find the perfect voice, deliver a convincing message and highlight your brand in an authentic way.

Wondering how to prepare for an international trade fair or looking for tips for successful trade fair participation? To truly stand out, you need more than just an eye-catching booth. Incorporating multilingual marketing materials, professional interpreting services, and cultural awareness training can help you forge deeper international connections. Below are 10 best practices for trade fair exhibitors, designed to power your success at any event, anywhere in the world.