Choosing an AI Translation partner? Don’t sign before you ask these 7 questions

You’ve made the call to bring AI into your translation program but now comes the hard part: choosing the right partner.

This decision has big implications. The wrong provider can lock you into rigid workflows, underperforming tech, and costly surprises. The right one? They’ll act as an extension of your team, helping you grow smarter, faster, and more efficiently.

Before you sign on the dotted line, make sure to ask these 7 questions to ensure your partner has what it takes to meet your needs today and tomorrow.

1. Do they lock you into one model or offer flexibility?

Some AI translation providers tout their proprietary models as a standout feature. But what they call an advantage can quickly become a limitation. Being locked into a single model means you’re stuck with one-size-fits-all performance no matter the language, content type, or industry.

The smarter move? Choose a model-agnostic partner that gives you access to multiple large language models, each tuned for different needs. This flexibility lets you strike the right balance between cost, quality, and speed so you can adapt as your content and priorities evolve.

2. Can their AI actually learn your brand?

Translation is about more than just getting the words right. It’s about capturing your brand’s voice in every language. That’s why it’s essential to choose a partner that supports deep customization of AI models.

This means training the models on your tone, style guide, terminology, and do not translate lists. But customization should go further. Look for platforms that incorporate edit effort tracking and language quality evaluation to keep improving results with the right level of human oversight.

When your AI understands your voice, you save time, maintain consistency, and deliver content that truly represents your brand.

3. Can they act fast—and can they prove it?

Speed is one of the biggest promises in AI translation, but talk is cheap. The real question is whether your provider can back it up when it counts.

Ask for hard data. What are their average turnaround times? How often do they deliver on schedule? And how do they handle urgent or high-volume requests? A reliable partner will have the numbers to show they can move quickly and adapt when the pressure is on.

4. Will they help you automate translation workflows?

Translation is just one part of a much bigger process. The right AI partner should help you streamline your entire content pipeline from start to finish.

Look for platforms with built-in workflow automation that covers everything from content ingestion to review, approvals, and publishing. They should offer ready-to-use integrations with your core content systems and the flexibility to build custom connections through strong APIs. 

Whether you're working in five languages or fifty, automation is what enables you to scale without increasing manual effort.

5. How do they handle data privacy and security?

Not all AI translation providers take your data as seriously as you do. If your content includes sensitive or confidential information, protecting it should be non-negotiable.

Choose a provider that keeps your data isolated and never uses it to train third-party models or public language systems. Enterprise-grade security should come standard, including certifications like ISO 27001. And if you operate in a highly regulated industry like healthcare, look for providers with the right credentials to match (such as HITRUST) for added peace of mind.

6. Can they demonstrate measurable ROI?

Flashy AI features are great, but if they don’t drive results, they’re just noise.

The right partner will give you clear visibility into performance with metrics that matter—think cost savings, time-to-market acceleration, and quality improvements. Robust dashboards and transparent reporting should come standard. And it’s not just about proving their value to you. It’s about giving you the tools to showcase the impact of your localization program to your leadership team. A great provider doesn’t just deliver results, they help you demonstrate them and shine.

7. Are they a vendor or a partner?

Bringing AI into your translation program is a huge shift in how your team works. That’s why you need more than a vendor. You need a true partner.

The right partner will stay hands-on from day one, helping you onboard smoothly, fine-tune your workflows, and continuously improve results. They’ll be responsive, collaborative, and fully aligned with your goals. Look for dedicated points of contact who stick with you over time, get to know your business, and offer proactive, strategic guidance to help you perform at your best.

Don’t just choose a tool. Choose a team.

Shifting to AI translation is more than a technology upgrade, it’s a transformation of how you create, manage, and scale content globally. Success depends on finding a partner who understands your goals and builds a solution around your needs.

With the right support, you gain more than just powerful tech. You gain a team that helps you move faster, stay consistent, and grow with confidence.

Ready to make the shift? Download Navigating the Shift, a new guide to adopting AI translation with clarity and confidence.