A step forward in translation project management: Introducing XTRF Chat

We are happy to announce a major addition to XTRF that will change the way you work and communicate, regardless of where you are. We’ve incorporated a custom chat capability directly into XTRF workflows called XTRF Chat. It was designed from the ground up to support remote communications with co-workers and vendors.

A dedicated chat space for translation and localization

We all know how email chains can devolve during a project management session. Confusing threads, attachments that get buried, and subjects mixed up across messages. Add in multiple translators, project managers, and customer requests, and communication can slow things down. XTRF Chat cuts through these challenges. It is entirely designed for language teams regardless of your project’s role – project manager, translator, corrector, DTP expert.

XTRF Chat resides directly in your favorite virtual workspace – an app in your mobile phone, as a standalone Web application, and even inside the XTRF platform.

Each chat can be associated with a specific project and relates to a project’s query or problem. This creates a clear and easy way to follow progress, share documents, and create solutions quickly. If a translator has a question about context, for example, they can open a chat and get an answer in real-time.

The value of this instant communication changes everything. Exchanges are more relevant, answering is faster, and groups can easily be formed for fast problem-solving.

Mobile app for mobile answers, fast

XTRF Chat is available as an app, making it easy to ask or answer a question, regardless of where you are. When you are dealing with translators who are in different time zones, global locations, or not in their offices, you can still maintain a real-time, instant connection.

It is not unusual for a simple question to hold up a project unnecessarily. People are more likely to quickly respond to chat than an email. Fast responses keep things flowing. Our mobile offerings take this even further, putting basic XTRF communications in the palm of your hand.

Collaborating in a ‘virtual office’ gets more real

As we have all experienced, remote work can be extremely challenging and person to person communication is a real barrier. XTRF Chat removes that barrier, helping remote teams communicate quickly with fast, natural, and conversational responses. Responses that duplicate the kind of information exchange we do in physical offices every day.

This friendly collaboration helps eliminate the feeling of being disconnected or ‘out of the loop’. It builds teamwork and a sense of being part of a high functioning group of professionals, regardless of where the team is located. XTRF Chat monitors the composition of the project team and automatically updates the list of people participating in the discussion about the project.

Centralized communication in everyone’s workspace

Unlike third-party chat applications, XTRF Chat is dedicated to translation and localization. Chats can be shared among translators, reviewers, and project managers working on the same project. Forwarding, redundant duplicate messages, and CCing can be eliminated by creating relevant groups for a project or subject. Access is controlled and a record created of all communications relevant to a specific project.

This is all about focus, clarity, and context. If you ask a question in a chat group dedicated to a specific problem, it will be understood by everyone involved to be about that project. When you are juggling multiple projects in multiple languages, with many variables, this eliminates confusion and errors and saves everyone time.

Dedicated, real-time, personal and group communication: XTRF Chat

We are excited about XTRF Chat, for good reason. We believe this changes the way translation and localization teams will work. It creates efficiencies, promotes team cohesion, and speeds up problem-solving on a daily basis. Once you get used to working this way, there is no going back to the old way of communicating.

Have questions about XTRF Chat? We’re here to answer them whether you are a current XTRF user or considering XTRF as your translation and localization platform. We think XTRF Chat makes that choice a lot easier. It’s a game-changer.