If your business serves a diverse, multilingual audience, you may benefit from over-the-phone interpretation (OPI) services. Also known as telephonic interpretation, OPI can truly enhance the customer experience for non-English speakers or people with limited English proficiency. With professional translation and interpreting services, your business is better equipped to cross the language barrier and provide great service to everyone, no matter what language they speak.
Over-the-phone interpretation basics
An over-the-phone interpreter is a professional who can help two people who don’t speak the same language understand each other. These services are easily accessed via a dedicated phone number. Telephonic interpretation services can be used to assist people who are trying to communicate with each other via a simple three-way call.
Benefits of over-the-phone interpretation
Telephonic interpretation is quick, efficient, and cost-effective when compared to other types of interpretation, such as hiring an in-person interpreter to visit your facility. Phone interpretation is perfect when seeing body language isn’t necessary for understanding a conversation. It can be accessed from anywhere using just a phone or mobile device and is particularly useful in emergencies when time is of the essence.
Is your establishment required to provide interpretation services?
In the United States, businesses and providers in certain industries are required to offer multilingual services, including interpretation, to ensure that everyone receives the same quality of service even if they do not speak English fluently. These regulated industries include healthcare, government, education, and many others.
Medical over-the-phone interpretation
In medical settings, it is crucial for every patient to understand their medical conditions and treatment options so they can make informed decisions. Having a skilled interpreter available over the phone to communicate back and forth between the hospital staff and the patient makes a huge difference in the quality of care and in improving patient outcomes. Utilizing OPI can also be hugely helpful in reducing the risk of mistakes due to misunderstandings and lowering the likelihood of malpractice suits.
Over-the-phone interpretation in government services
In many cities and towns in the US, there are sizeable segments of the population that are not fluent English speakers, and they can greatly benefit from phone interpretation when requesting assistance, filling out forms, or asking for information. By having phone interpretation services available for citizens who either visit the government facility in person or via the phone, public organizations ensure equal access for everyone.
Growing your customer base with phone interpretation
From factory tours to conferences and facilitating international partnerships, professional phone interpreting can give you a leg up over the competition. In today’s interconnected world, the ability to communicate and engage with customers in multiple languages can set your business apart from the rest.
Enhancing parent-teacher understanding with over-the-phone interpretation
Parent engagement can make a big difference in a child’s success in school – as long as there are no language barriers. Over-the-phone interpretation is a convenient tool in any administrator’s toolbox, and it can be made available for parent-teacher conferences, PTA meetings, or to help with special education programs, in addition to many other scenarios.
Ensuring high standards via robust infrastructure
To ensure availability, service quality, and fast routing of calls, the best phone interpretation companies invest in robust telephony infrastructure. Major players in the industry, like BIG Language Solutions, have a wide range of languages available, sometimes over 300, and keep professional interpreters available any time of the day or night with no service interruptions.
Professional interpreter certifications
Accuracy is paramount, and professional interpreters undergo ongoing training to keep their skills sharp. Regulated industries like healthcare, government, and the legal field usually require industry-specific certifications and in-depth topic knowledge along with advanced degrees. Some professional certifications include those by the International Association of Professional Translators and Interpreters (IAPTI), the Institute of Translation and Interpreting (ITI), and Federal and State courts. BIG offers professional interpreters who hold a wide range of certifications and qualifications.
Quality and confidentiality
No matter the subject, professional interpreters are held to a high standard of confidentiality and quality. This is especially true in the case of healthcare, where patient confidentiality laws apply, but it extends anywhere any type of personal information is being exchanged. From reliable protocols for discarding private data to ensuring confidentiality, professional interpreting service providers like BIG Language Solutions know how important it is to safeguard our customers’ trust.
Explore the possibilities of phone interpretation
If you’re interested in expanding your customer service to a multilingual or global audience, we can help you decide if over-the-phone interpretation is right for you!
