By Rachel Pierce, ATA Language Technology Division, assisted by ChatGPT
Moderators: Bridget Hylak & Daniel Sebesta
In the rapidly evolving translation and localization landscape, XTM International has emerged as a beacon of innovation, leading the way to a more integrated, efficient, and user-friendly future. During our latest ATA TEKTalks session on March 19, Sara Basile, Product Director at XTM, shared how the company’s flagship platform, XTM Cloud, is redefining the boundaries of collaborative translation. With a focus on AI-driven enhancements, unparalleled ease of use, and robust security measures, XTM Cloud is a transformative tool for freelancers, language service providers, and enterprises looking to excel in the global marketplace.
Sara Basile’s journey in the localization industry spans over a decade with global companies, culminating in her role at XTM where she leads product operations and the strategic product vision. As a former translator and project manager, she is an advocate for smart technology and a customer-centric approach. Her enthusiasm and expertise were evident as she walked the audience through some of XTM’s standout features designed to improve productivity and collaboration for language professionals.
What Is XTM?
XTM International’s flagship product, XTM Cloud, is an advanced, cloud-based translation management system (TMS) designed to streamline the workflow of language professionals around the world. XTM Cloud integrates AI-driven capabilities and comprehensive localization asset management into a single, easy-to-use platform. By providing real-time, in-context translation features, secure data handling, and flexible customization options, XTM enables translators, LSPs, and enterprises to optimize their translation processes, ensuring high-quality output while significantly reducing turnaround times. XTM works with a wide range of clients in a variety of industries, including IT software, life sciences, manufacturing, gaming and entertainment, e-commerce, and retail.
XTM’s Value Proposition
With the proliferation of computer-assisted translation (CAT) tools and translation management systems (TMS), it can be difficult for users to determine which platform is best. For Sara, the top three features that set XTM apart are ease of use, centralization, and security/privacy.
Ease of Use
As a former translator, Sara understands the frustration of having to log into and learn multiple tools that don’t work together seamlessly. That’s why XTM Cloud was designed with a user-friendly, collaborative interface and streamlined processes that reduce the learning curve and increase productivity.
Centralized Storage and Linguistic Assets
Drawing parallels with Google Docs, Sara pointed out that XTM Cloud allows multiple linguists to work on the same file and make changes on the fly. Linguistic assets such as translation memories and glossaries are also stored in a central location, which not only improves consistency but also increases productivity and reduces turnaround time.
Security and Privacy in the Cloud
Sara noted that security and privacy are at the top of the list for everyone these days, and they are central to XTM’s approach. Customers can choose between the multi-tenant XTM Cloud and the XTM Private Cloud, which is designed for enterprise customers looking for tailored solutions. There is also an XTM Suite option for enterprise customers who require the enhanced security of an on-prem solution. Sara pointed out some of the benefits of using a cloud-based solution, one of which is that the provider does the heavy lifting with regard to maintenance and security.
Productivity at the Core
Central to XTM’s philosophy is the belief that AI should have a clear purpose and that language technology tools should not include AI features just for the sake of bling. XTM’s AI-driven features are intentionally-designed to improve collaboration and automate tedious steps such as inline tag placement, terminology extraction, and alignment so that linguists can focus on value-added tasks, increase their productivity, and build more lucrative careers in the process.
AI Roadmap
XTM has incorporated proprietary AI features for years, including, as mentioned, automatic inline tag placement. Other existing AI-driven features include bilingual terminology extraction and alignment with an enhanced TM algorithm to leverage more content. These features mean cost savings for enterprise customers and time savings for linguists. New AI features currently in closed beta testing but soon to be released include quality evaluation confidence scoring and gender and bias detection. Version 13.6, which has been rolled out since the end of March, now also includes a beta program for ChatGPT integration.
Empowering Users
A key theme that emerged from this episode of TEKTalk was the flexibility of XTM’s overall approach. The company offers multiple subscription models, custom settings, and tailored workflows to create translation processes that can be tailored to specific industries and content types. The goal is to empower users by giving them the best possible tools and options so that enterprise customers can decide what works best for them, and linguists can hone their skills and excel in their careers.
Interoperability
Another important principle for XTM is integration with other tools, whether through direct downloads or more integrated CAT tool offerings. For example, linguists can download a file from XTM to translate it in other CAT tools, for example as an XLIFF in Trados or as a TIPP in memoQ. XTM also integrates with Plunet and other business management platforms, as well as most machine translation solutions. Not pushing any one solution is part of XTM’s overall flexible approach.
Integration and Support
Sara explained XTM’s robust tiered support system, with response and resolution times based on the service level agreement in place with the end client. Linguists working for a client are encouraged to find out what tier of support the client has with XTM, as the linguist will automatically be covered at that level. Customers at all support levels have access to the XTM Support Portal and the XTM Knowledge Base.
“It is clear that platforms like XTM are critical to empowering translators to navigate
the complexities of modern localization work.”
Training and Certification
Sara also announced the launch of XTM Academy, an on-demand e-learning platform to help users master the features of XTM at their own pace. It includes guided learning videos and hands-on exercises to get new users up to speed quickly. The company is working to develop XTM Academy into an official XTM certification program, underscoring XTM’s commitment to professional development in the translation industry.
User Feedback
Another unique aspect of XTM is that the company encourages users to provide all useful feedback, whether positive or negative. Users can even contribute directly to the development of XTM by suggesting improvements through the XTM Wishlist. Sara’s team reviews submitted ideas weekly and triages them based on feasibility and urgency. Users who submit an idea via the Wishlist are automatically notified when their idea is added to the roadmap, and other users can vote on ideas in the Wishlist. This initiative exemplifies XTM’s commitment to community-driven innovation, ensuring that the tool evolves in line with real-world needs.
Q&A
With a lot to cover in the presentation, there were only a few minutes left to answer questions from the audience about the inner workings of XTM Cloud. The first question was whether users could change certain XTM Workbench settings, such as font size. Sara encouraged users to explore the Settings menu where many elements can be customized, including font and font size. In contrast, most quality assurance (QA) settings are controlled by the project manager who creates the project, so there is less flexibility there unless the project is set up with custom rules.
Another attendee asked why XTM treats dates as if they were numbers by inserting a comma in the year (e.g., 2,024 instead of 2024). The attendee wondered if this was something that could be changed in the QA settings. Sara replied that, again, the settings are controlled by the project manager who sets up the project, but she promised to bring the feedback back to her team for review and action.
An attendee was curious about the languages for which the inclusivity integration beta feature is available. Unlike the translation quality evaluation feature, which is available in almost every language, the inclusivity feature is primarily designed for gendered languages, so it currently works in Portuguese, French, Italian, German, Spanish, and Simplified Chinese, with Dutch support coming soon.
Finally, another attendee asked about the benefits for individual translators of the collaborative tools built into XTM Cloud, which seem to be designed for company owners. Sara emphasized that users’ experience with the TM is live, and that they can leverage matches from other linguists and other projects in real time. There is also a new chat feature that makes it easier to ask questions and get answers about a project. Chats can also be made public for shared reference.
Takeaways
Sara Basile’s insightful presentation on XTM Cloud offered a forward-looking perspective grounded in practicality and a deep understanding of linguists’ realities and the dynamics of the language industry. XTM is committed to developing tools and features that can be customized and combined to meet real-world needs, with a focus on streamlining collaboration and increasing productivity.
As we look forward to more sessions exploring the intersection of language and technology, it’s clear that platforms like XTM are critical to empowering translators to navigate the complexities of modern localization work. ATA TEKTalks is an important forum for these discussions, fostering a deeper understanding of the tools that shape our industry. Your insight and engagement are invaluable, and we look forward to exploring new language technology horizons together.