By Bridget Hylak, Administrator (2021-23), ATA Language Technology Division, assisted by ChatGPT
Moderators: Bridget Hylak and Daniel Sebesta
On August 24th, 2023, the American Translators Association (ATA) TEKTalks series presented its 2.3 edition, featuring Anne-Sophie De Clercq, language lover and developer behind LSP.expert. Moderated by Bridget Hylak, Administrator of the ATA Language Technology Division, and Daniel Sebesta, Assistant Administrator, the webinar aimed to educate the audience about the history, philosophy, mission, and people behind this unique “management tool for translators.”
With 237 registered attendees and organized by the dedicated ATA Language Technology Division Leadership Council, this installment of ATA TEKTalks aimed to shift the spotlight from CAT tools to a tool that addresses a critical need for freelancers and small business owners – efficient business management.
Anne-Sophie De Clercq embodies the modern linguist – a translator, work-life balance speaker, and yoga enthusiast. She found herself in need of a tool that could streamline the administrative side of her translation business, leading her to discover LSP.expert. During the webinar, Anne-Sophie’s vibrant and friendly demeanor shone through, showcasing her authenticity and her deep understanding of the language industry. In a post-session survey, the audience stated they found her relatable and knowledgeable, making her insights even more valuable.
Top Features to Boost Freelancers’ Productivity
Anne-Sophie highlighted three standout features of LSP.expert that she said can significantly enhance freelancers’ productivity:
One-Minute Invoicing: LSP.expert simplifies the invoicing process, making it perfect for those who bill at the end of the month. Users can select tasks or groups of tasks, instruct LSP.expert to generate invoices, and instantly create multiple invoices for different clients. These invoices can then be downloaded as PDF files or sent directly to clients.
Reporting: The tool offers a range of easily understandable reports, allowing users to keep a close eye on their business’s performance. Users can track their earnings for a month or a year, identify top clients, and assess the profitability of their services.
Time Tracking: LSP.expert provides a streamlined time tracking tool, enabling users to monitor the time spent on each task. This feature not only offers insights into productivity but also facilitates accurate time-based client billing.
A Tool Tailored for Small Businesses
Unlike some other business management software designed for larger language service providers (LSPs), LSP.expert proudly embraces its role as a tool “made by translators for translators.” Its origins lie in the collaboration between Caroline, a freelance translator, and Cédric, a freelance developer. Frustrated by the lack of streamlined, affordable management tools for translators, Cédric created LSP.expert for Caroline, and it quickly gained popularity among their colleagues.
Simplified Project Lifecycle
LSP.expert simplifies the project lifecycle for translators and interpreters. Within minutes, users can set up their accounts, define services and pricing, create tasks, manage client profiles, generate quotes and invoices, track time spent on projects, and analyze financial performance. This efficiency far surpasses traditional methods that rely on time-consuming spreadsheets, all while keeping costs lower than industry giants.
Support and Integration
LSP.expert is cloud-based, ensuring compatibility across various devices and browsers. It can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection, making it highly accessible for users on Mac, PC, or any other platform. The tool also offers calendar integration for syncing deadlines and reminders, making project management even more efficient. However, LSP.expert does not directly integrate with common CAT tools, and is instead used as a standalone solution separate from the CAT/TMS environment.
Flexible Subscription Options
Users can choose between yearly or monthly subscriptions, with tiered plans catering to different business sizes. These plans range from basic subscriptions for managing up to 10 clients to premium and team options for larger operations. The pricing details can be found on the LSP.expert website.
Privacy and Data Protection
LSP.expert takes data privacy seriously, with double encryption and servers located in Europe to meet strict GDPR requirements. The tool collects only essential data required for platform efficiency, ensuring user information is safeguarded.
Training and Support
LSP.expert offers various resources to benefit its users, including webinars, a YouTube channel, online support, and insightful emails for new users. They are also in the process of creating short videos covering various features, tips, and tricks. As for day to day support, just send LSP.expert a chat. “There’s nothing as impersonal as a ticket!” Miss De Clercq said.
Unanswered Questions and Future Developments
During the webinar, several questions were raised by the audience that couldn’t be addressed due to time constraints. These questions revolved around LSP.expert’s capabilities in calendar management, integration with external invoicing systems, integration with finances, ease of use on different devices, and more. According to De Clercq, the team behind LSP.expert is working on enhancing some of the tool’s features, including potential integrations with accounting and invoicing systems, but no deadline or launch date for any such potential enhancements has been released as of this writing.
Conclusion
Anne-Sophie De Clercq’s presentation shed light on an essential aspect of the translation industry – efficient business management. LSP.expert, Miss De Clercq said, offers a user-friendly and cost-effective solution for freelance linguists and small language service providers. As LSP.expert continues to evolve and address user feedback, it promises to be an invaluable tool for professionals seeking to thrive in the language industry.
Engagement and Questions
Anne-Sophie De Clercq’s ATA TEKTalks 2.3 webinar sparked a lively interaction with the audience. Her insights into LSP.expert’s capabilities and adaptability prompted numerous questions, offering a deeper understanding of the tool’s potential and versatility. Here are some of the notable audience questions and the corresponding answers:
One participant was keen to understand how LSP.expert handles calendar management and syncing. Anne-Sophie clarified that users can seamlessly integrate their LSP.expert account with Google Calendar. This integration allows them to stay organized by syncing project deadlines and receiving timely reminders, making project management more efficient.
Another query revolved around LSP.expert’s compatibility with clients who use their own internal invoicing systems. Anne-Sophie acknowledged that, currently, LSP.expert doesn’t offer direct integration with external invoicing systems, but the development team is currently looking into integrations with major accounting and invoicing platforms for the future.
The audience was also curious about how LSP.expert deals with financial aspects such as banking, taxes, and payment processing. Anne-Sophie shared that while LSP.expert doesn’t currently integrate with financial systems, it’s on their roadmap to connect with accounting and payment processing solutions in the future.
Participants inquired about the ease of using LSP.expert on different devices, specifically comparing Mac and PC experiences. Anne-Sophie assured the audience that LSP.expert is a cloud-based platform accessible from any device with an internet connection. It’s designed to adapt effortlessly to various operating systems, ensuring a consistent and user-friendly experience whether on Mac or PC.
One attendee wanted to know if LSP.expert offers a dedicated mobile app for enhanced usability on smartphones and tablets. Anne-Sophie clarified that while LSP.expert doesn’t have a dedicated mobile app, it is a web-based solution accessible through web browsers on mobile devices that works for its users.
Regarding interpreters, the audience sought insights into LSP.expert’s features tailored to their needs. Anne-Sophie explained that LSP.expert doesn’t have specific interpreter features. However, its flexibility allows interpreters to adapt the tool to their requirements. They can collaborate with partners, customize rates, synchronize tasks, and efficiently manage glossaries and reference documents within LSP.expert.
Conclusion
The audience’s active participation in the ATA TEKTalks 2.3 webinar highlighted the genuine interest and curiosity within the language industry on the topic of translation business management systems (TBMS’s). As LSP.expert continues to evolve, it remains a flexible and user-centric solution empowering language professionals to streamline their business management processes and thrive in their respective linguistic roles.