Babylon-Software.com Service Overview

Babylon-Software.com takes the 10th position in our rating system. The focus of this agency is far more on its translation software packages and other products than it is on actual translation services. However, it does offer specific business, legal, technical translations, and medical translation services, as advertised on its site.

The software translation packages offered are on a subscription basis, with both basic and premium options. These include a text to voice, written document translation, and it newest – a full text tool that will identify the original language and translate the piece into a target language based upon user selection. Basic packages include 35 languages, such as Russian, professional Czech translation services, Chinese, Italian translation servcices, with premium versions moving up to 77+ languages. Other Babylon software includes language learning and dictionaries.

The human translation services boast a “global network of translators” for custom orders that are perhaps more complex than the software can produce well. Customers place orders through an inquiry system by sending the details of the need on an order form. They then receive a response from the company, providing pricing and a qualified translator. Only then is the order finalized and paid for.

Pricing

The software packages come with fixed subscription prices, and there is a standard $0.16 per word price point for custom human translation. The rating on pricing is a “10,” because it is above the industry average, and customer reviews do state that it is too high. The other concern we have with pricing is that it is “fixed,” no matter what the document or text may be. This means that a personal letter is priced just as a legal document. Most professional agencies have differentiated translation rates per word based on types of documents and text. $0.16/word for a personal translation is just too much.

Speed

Customers cumulative opinions about speed were mixed. The site states that it will provide 1 page per hour, a speed that is not exceptionally above that of other agencies. And there are exceptions which, obviously, are based upon the complexity of the content/piece. Based on customer feedback and our experience with the agency, we have rated speed above average but not exceptional – a “4.”

Accuracy

Translation technology has certainly improved over the years, but it is no match for human translation, especially if that translation is backed up by another review/edit by an equally the most accurate translator. Customers who have used the software packages offered by Babylon have given mixed reviews of the accuracy of the translations they have received. We did not use the software for our translation order, so cannot comment on it specifically. However, the human translation that we did order and receive was adequately accurate, as were the experiences of other customers who provided feedback, and therefore the rating was a “5,” right in the middle. When our target language expert reviewed the product we received, he did point out some errors in syntax and idiomatic expressions, but overall, it was good.

Customer Satisfaction

We openly solicit customer feedback on their overall satisfaction with the services we review, and we use this feedback, along with any Babylon Software review we find already posted on the web, both on other review sites and on social media. We add our own experience to these reviews and assign a rating. In this case, the ratings were not particularly good. Dis-satisfaction related to the use of the software stems from inaccuracy of results. Other dis-satisfaction was from those with less complex translations who paid a price higher than other agencies charge for the same type of document.

Certified Translation Services

The company website does not speak to certifications of its translators, and, of course, machine translations are not “certified” by any organization or association. Because of this, we did not assign a rating in this category.

Conclusion

We were not overly impressed with Babylon-Software.com. While it certainly has lots of products to offer, and while it also provides human translators as an option, the reviews of customers and our own experience, have not provided anything that could be considered exceptional. It has the 10th position for obvious reasons. The best rating in any category was a “4,” and there are two “10’s.” This agency’s software is probably suitable for those who do not need absolute accuracy. The use of a human translator probably gives better results, although this service does not provide a second set of eyes, as the best translation agencies often do. According to the numerical ranking we have given, this agency rates within our top 10, but in the last place.