Fellow travelers in translation,
Lately, I’ve been discussing with some of my LSP clients. We’ve been batting around ideas on how translators and small LSPs can move forward together… and not just survive the AI shift, but actually use it to thrive.
Here’s the thing.
Small LSPs aren’t trying to become the next multinational juggernaut. They don’t have the capital to chase that dream even if they wanted to. What they do have is a focus on clients, marketing, and project management… the very things most freelance translators don’t want to spend their time doing.
That makes them valuable partners.
But here’s the catch. Small LSPs are just as threatened by automation as we are. Without translator expertise in-house, they’re at risk of being squeezed out. And if they go under, translators lose an essential ally.
That’s where a new model comes in… one I’ve been discussing with one of my LSP clients. It combines translator-driven processes with small LSP marketing muscle.
And at the heart of it is the GAIT workflow.
For those who haven’t heard of it yet, GAIT stands for Generative AI Iterative Translation. Think of it as a breakthrough approach that flips the script on CAT tools and MTPE. Instead of giving up control to technology, GAIT puts you—the translator—back in the driver’s seat. Using an iterative workflow inside your familiar CAT-tool environment, you can refine, guide, and shape the AI’s output until it’s truly yours.
The result: higher quality, faster turnaround, and a lot more satisfaction.
Here’s the four-step model this client proposed for a pilot project:
Build a specialist translator team in a focused niche, like legal, healthcare, or government.
Apply the GAIT workflow to redefine pricing, timelines, and collaboration. Can translators and editors refine the same document at once? How do we balance efficiency with excellence?
Shape those insights into a clear product offering. AI-powered, quality-driven, and market-ready.
Let the small LSP package and sell it to their client network.
The outcome? A competitive edge that isn’t about racing to the bottom… but about building translator-LSP partnerships that the big agencies simply can’t replicate.
I’ll leave you with this: I believe this translator-LSP model has real potential. But it won’t work without collaboration. That’s why I want your ideas. How do you see translators and small LSPs working together to succeed in today’s market? What’s missing? What’s already working?
I’m looking forward to your insights.
Onward and upward in translation,
Steven (for the team)
