Ask HN: Is Email translation a viable idea?

#1

Post by csytan » Mon, May 09, 2011, 12:46 AM UTC

Problem: English business-person wants to communicate with Japanese client but neither speak the other's language.

Proposed solution: They use a service which automatically translates (human translation) emails between him and the Japanese client.

Would this type of service be useful to you or your company? I've been thinking of making this a reality for a few weeks, but first I'd like to know if this is a common problem.

Appreciate any tips!

Re: Ask HN: Is Email translation a viable idea?

#2

Post by trevelyan » Mon, May 09, 2011, 1:10 AM UTC

It's been tried before a few times and hasn't worked for a simple reason: people don't generally deal with other people who don't speak their language. Think about it: how many times has this ever been a problem for you? Or anyone you know?

The hard thing in the translation business is scaling up demand (there are tons of translators in most language pairs so pricing is really competitive and it is hard for a middleman to make money). And if you somehow manage to get a lot of business you then have to manage the HR side of keeping a lot of people working efficiently at scale while making sure you're still getting great quality.

Both of these are difficult problems, especially since there isn't an obvious technical way to lower customer acquisition costs enough to compete with independent translators. That said, if you can find a solution to the first problem (reliably getting business) you can monetize it much more easily than by solving the second, if only because anyone who already has translation business at scale will be reluctant to screw with the organizational processes that are making them money in a cutthroat market.

Re: Ask HN: Is Email translation a viable idea?

#3

Post by ndroo » Mon, May 09, 2011, 1:13 AM UTC

Ive certainly heard of people who would use it, but there would be a lot of concerns around privacy and security of information. I personally think gmail has most of the market here by providing automated translations, the big companies who want something better (and are willing to pay for it) probably use their existing translation partners....

Although...honestly...id you can solve the privacy issue and make an experience where someone sends an email and selects the new language, and the person receiving the email doesnt even see it until the translation is complete...it could seem very seemless and accurate, people might love it. I would, if i needed it.

Re: Ask HN: Is Email translation a viable idea?

#4

Post by csytan » Mon, May 09, 2011, 1:29 AM UTC

trevelyan wrote: post #2

It's been tried before a few times and hasn't worked for a simple reason: people don't generally deal with other people who don't speak their language. Think about it: how many times has this ever been a problem for you? Or anyone you know? The hard thing in the translation business is scaling up demand (there are tons of translators in most language pairs so pricing is really competitive and it is hard for a middlem…

Thanks. Those were really good points to consider.

Would you mind giving out your contact? I would love to pick your mind on something like this :)

Re: Ask HN: Is Email translation a viable idea?

#5

Post by trevelyan » Mon, May 09, 2011, 10:21 AM UTC

csytan wrote: post #4

trevelyan wrote: post #2

It's been tried before a few times and hasn't worked for a simple reason: people don't generally deal with other people who don't speak their language. Think about it: how many times has this ever been a problem for you? Or anyone you know? The hard thing in the translation business is scaling up demand (there are tons of translators in most language pairs so pricing is really competitive and it is hard for a middlem…

Thanks. Those were really good points to consider. Would you mind giving out your contact? I would love to pick your mind on something like this :)

Sure, see first site in my profile.