When a company hires a certified translation agency, it not only expects a text that is correct in another language; it wants real guarantees for quality, professionalism, and process control. In this context, the ISO 17100 standard has become one of the most important international standards in the language sector. But, what does this certification actually mean and why does it make a difference when choosing a provider?
What the ISO 17100 is
The ISO 17100 is an international standard created specifically to regulate professional translation services. It replaced previous standards such as the EN-15038 and establishes clear requirements about how a true professional translation agency should work.
It isn’t just a marketing seal, but a certification that evaluates processes, teams of people, reviews, project management, and quality control. Its goal is to unify criteria all over the world so that clients know what to expect when they hire a certified company.
The ISO 17100 regulates aspects such as:
- Translators with a verified professional qualification (specific academic training or documented experience).
- Compulsory review by a separate second professional.
- Clearly defined project management procedures.
- Quality control at each stage of the process.
- Professional management of terminology and language resources.
- Confidentiality and protecting client data.
- Traceability of each commission and documentation of incidents.
This approach makes the ISO 17100 a complete work system, not just a marketing emblem. Its goal is to reduce errors, standardize criteria, and ensure that each translation follows a standardized professional process.
It is particularly relevant in highly specialized services such as technical translation or sworn translation, where a mistake can have legal or financial implications.
How it sets one certified agency apart from the rest
A translation agency certified under the ISO 17100 standard has undergone external audits that verify that its processes meet the established requirements. This is what sets it apart from companies that only promise quality without being able to demonstrate how they guarantee that.
One of the big advantages is how work is organized, with the allocation of qualified professionals, controls for reviews, and structured follow-up for each project. This is key in areas such as translation for ecommerce, where texts are not just translated, but marketing content is adapted to different markets.
A certified agency also works with stable teams, which often include native-speaking translators, which enhances the natural flow of texts and cultural adaptation, although the standard focuses on the technical qualification and not the professional’s background.
For many companies, the ISO 17100 is a determining factor in seeking the best translation agency in Spain. Not as an advertising claim, but as a guarantee of rigor, professionalism, and security.
In a market that is saturated with automatic solutions, the ISO certification makes a clear difference: audited processes over improvisation.
