Translation Agency Acclaro Leverages the Cloud for Its Global Team
March 8, 2012
In light of its globally-distributed workforce, translation agency Acclaro has redoubled its investments in cloud-computing technologies this last quarter. They announced the most recent development in this trend today—the internal launch of a new portal for Acclaro companywide communications, collaboration, training and data access.
“This SharePoint site is just one of many web-based business applications that our internal teams leverage to efficiently manage projects across time zones,” says Acclaro President Michael Kriz. “The flexibility, mobility and accessibility of these technologies have changed how we do business.” One advantage has been increased ease in supporting and centrally managing application environments for Acclaro’s global employees and partners. With translators, project managers and production staff located across all time zones around the globe, having central information, file sharing and workflow is critical to seamless communication and timely service…
The Acclaro operations teams benefit from these efficiencies the most, using web-based applications to streamline all internal and external communications around client projects. “We’ve made huge strides in the domain of information sharing,” says Acclaro VP of Operations Ora Solomon. “Cloud-based technologies facilitate all aspects of our job management, from financials to resourcing and job execution.” Project information and files used to sit on desktops and local servers and had to be transferred between offices around the globe. Now this data lives in the cloud and is accessed instantly via web applications and virtual desktops in the cloud.
Client portals and query management systems in the cloud now enable project managers to keep the client informed in real-time of workflow and their project’s evolution. The business management systems that Acclaro uses keep clients up-to-date with project submissions, file transfers, handoffs, handbacks to resources, status updates and bug fixing/resolution. Resourcing is also facilitated through a cloud-based solution in the Acclaro global resource database.
Acclaro has realized strategic savings and efficiencies with the move to cloud technologies. With centralized applications and even desktop environments delivered over the web, teams can more easily setup new users and configure and deploy technologies. Updates are handled centrally and all localization-specific tools and standard desktop applications are readily accessible. Troubleshooting user support issues across the globe has therefore become much simpler.
Acclaro has found that cloud computing makes managing a 24/7, global professional services team more efficient and cost-effective, shortening project cycles and ultimately lowering costs for their clients.