Boost Your Global Supply Chain Deals: The Critical Role of Translators in International Contract Negotiations

Today’s supply crisis is squeezing many American businesses. More than 38% of small businesses have experienced some kind of delay in their supply chain because of the pandemic. These two problems highlight a need for robust supply chains for any business today. 

When building a supply chain, it’s almost inevitable that businesses will look overseas. That means dealing and negotiating with foreign companies. How can professional translation help during the stages of negotiating and sealing the deal?

Supplier Contracts

Disagreements often arise when negotiating with manufacturers and other links in the supply chain, and proper translation of documents can be key to finalizing deals. 

The supplier contract, for example, is crucial. There are several important things that must be covered by the contract, including:

• the product or goods being purchased or manufactured;
• the price of the goods and overall cost of manufacturing;
• the payment method and frequency of the payments;
• how the products will be delivered;
• who will pay for custom duties, shipping and other related costs;
• who will be covered for risks like loss and damage of goods during transit; and
• provisions for problems that may arise, and how to resolve them.

Mistranslations and incorrect formats are very common issues. Wrong translations can cause a lot of issues for a company later on. These usually happen when a translator has no knowledge about the field involved. Incorrect formats can also be costly mistakes, and they happen when translators have no idea about the requirements for the documents they are translating.

Businesses may consider finding a translation company that’s ISO certified, or a member of the American Translators Association (ATA). These companies will follow any formatting that’s required by the country where the supplier is located. 

Large translation companies will also guarantee their output, which means they are responsible for any problems that may arise because of a mistake made in their translation.

Translation can play a crucial role in supply chain negotiations, and help to solidify connections with suppliers, manufacturers, shipping companies and other partners.

Maya Ronen is chief of operations at Tomedes, a translation company.