Machine Translation Breaks Business Language Barriers

In a globally connected marketplace, new technologies ensure customer transactions won't get lost in translation. The world is becoming increasingly connected, and companies in search of worldwide markets need to be able to communicate with customers in their native tongues. They're depending on sophisticated new machine translation technologies to break down language barriers. "When you first enter a market, the early adopters for any new product -- whether it's a personal care product or a tech product -- tend to be internationally focused and English friendly, so you might think you're doing well," said Ben Sargent, content globalization strategist at the consulting firm Common Sense Advisory. To reach 80 percent of the world's total online population, businesses need to communicate in at least 12 languages, and to reach 98 percent, they need to translate across 48 languages.