Searching for the New Normal: Finding

Opportunity in an Unstable Interpreting

MarketKatharine Allen & Barry Slaughter Olsen

Co-Presidents, InterpretAmerica LLC

© 2016 InterpretAmerica, LLC

© 2016 InterpretAmerica, LLC

Website: www.interpretamerica.com

Twitter: @InterpAmerica

Facebook: InterpretAmerica

© 2016 InterpretAmerica, LLC

Barry S. Olsen Katharine Allen

• Co-President of InterpretAmerica

• Conference Interpreter• Interpreter Trainer• Interpreting Tech

Specialist• Professor at MIIS• Entrepreneur• Inventor

• Co-President of InterpretAmerica

• Healthcare/Legal Interpreter

• Interpreter Trainer• Former CHIA President• Instructor at Glendon

College• Author

Today’s Three Big Messages:

•Yes, the technology is finally ready!

•Navigating a Market in Flux and Finding Opportunity

© 2016 InterpretAmerica, LLC

© 2016 InterpretAmerica, LLC

• Demand for interpreting services continues to grow (public and private)

• Expanding mandates, stagnant or shrinking public budgets

• M&A in full swing / Corporate attention

• Traditional service delivery models unable to meet current needs

• Interpreters are wary of efforts to change the status quo

© 2016 InterpretAmerica, LLC

Growth Continues…

© 2016 InterpretAmerica, LLC

Source: Common Sense Advisory, "Top 100 Language Service Providers: 2016"

USA

• Expansion of interpretation to include both criminal and civil legal proceedings in multiple states

EU

• European Asylum Support Office (EASO) announces €63.5 million contract for interpreting services

Worldwide

• Growth in virtual meetings (webinars, expert calls and teleconferences)

Examples of Growing Demand

© 2016 InterpretAmerica, LLC

USA• LA Superior

Courts agree to expand interpreting to all proceedings, but state imposed budget cuts

Canada• Translation

Bureau plans to implement automated interpreter hiring system to boost efficiency

UK• UK outsourced

their court interpreting contracts –leading to multi-year disruption and harm to service

Expanding Mandates, Stagnant Budgets

© 2016 InterpretAmerica, LLC

Mergers & Acquisitions and Outside Investment

© 2016 InterpretAmerica, LLC

Service Delivery Models in Disruption

© 2016 InterpretAmerica, LLC

© 2016 InterpretAmerica, LLC

Mix of pre-translated common medical phrases with access to live OPI interpreter.

© 2016 InterpretAmerica, LLC

Paramedics in Wisconsin use iTranslate app en route to the ER.

100% machine translation.

Video Remote (and telephone) Interpreting

© 2016 InterpretAmerica, LLC

In-hospital call center

© 2016 InterpretAmerica, LLC

From face-to-face to remote: Changing

expectations for interpreter

skill-set

Interpreters are wary© 2016 InterpretAmerica, LLC

Technology adoption is the bottleneck!

© 2016 InterpretAmerica, LLC

Interpreters are wary

• Talk of the “Uberization” of interpreting is disconcerting

• Lack of widely accepted best practices for VRI in medical settings is a disincentive

• NCSC VRI pilot: interpreters asked to purchase equipment to work remotely

• No clear pathway to or standards for this form of work

© 2016 InterpretAmerica, LLC

Yes, the technology is finally ready!

© 2016 InterpretAmerica, LLC

Interpreting Platforms Garner Attention

© 2016 InterpretAmerica, LLC

© 2016 InterpretAmerica, LLC

Navigating a Market in Flux...

...Finding Opportunit

y

and

© 2016 InterpretAmerica, LLC

The Ketchup Analogy

• Bottle: New Delivery Platforms• Ketchup: Interpreters • Fries: Clients• Hungry boy: Language Service

Companies/Providers

© 2016 InterpretAmerica, LLC

Offer multiple platforms Remote platforms less costly

Specific use cases

EU Immigrant

contract

Golden reputation

Custom apps DOJ & LA Court

Agreement

Finding Opportunities-Language Service Companies

Train your interpreters

Invest in PR & sales

Finding Opportunities-Interpreters

© 2016 InterpretAmerica, LLC

Recruiting platforms Face-to-face + remote

Cross specialize

Wage structures

Golden reputation

You are a business!

Try new platforms!

© 2016 InterpretAmerica, LLC

The Ketchup Analogy

• Bottle: New Delivery Platforms• Ketchup: Interpreters • Fries: Clients• Hungry boy: Language Service

Companies/Providers

© 2016 InterpretAmerica, LLC

© 2016 InterpretAmerica, LLC

June 15-16, 2017 in Washington, D.C.

© 2016 InterpretAmerica, LLC

© 2016 InterpretAmerica, LLC

Website: www.interpretamerica.com

Twitter: @InterpAmerica

Facebook: InterpretAmerica