# How Do the Translation Industry's Past, Present, and Future Look Like?


Translation technology has undergone different phases of evolution since the last century. We have seen the translation management system technology transforming and improving to generate better translations. Many [**language service providers**](https://www.marshub.com/languages-services-providers/) have become fully established agencies now. Over the last few years, there has been a drastic transformation in translation demands among businesses around the world. Industries like healthcare, e-learning, entertainment, and SaaS have contributed greatly to that change. Lately, things have gained momentum, and it has changed everything in the translation industry for good.
This article discusses the translation industry's history, what it looks like today and what the future holds. Let's have a closer look at the growth and development of the translation industry from the past to the present and towards the future.

# **History of the Translation Industry**

Well, we are not getting into the ancient history of translations. However, the history of professional translation concerning globalization and economic growth is not long ago. After the industrial revolution, businesses started to expand worldwide, which somehow urged the need for professional translators to communicate with global audiences.

**Second Generation Machine Translation**

The research on machine translation engine technology started somewhere in the middle of the 20th century. Different machine translation systems were built down the line, using statistical models for translations. The quality of the translation was still not very good, and the accuracy was also doubtful. After the 1980s, there were machine translation tools available for installations, though it was only accessible to individuals who would have computer technology. Some big companies typically took advantage of this early MT technology.

**Google Translate Initial Launch**

Lately, in the 21st century, the development of machine translation has been more rapid and improved with deep learning and neural network technology. In 2006, when Google launched Google Translate caused a major shift in the translation sector. However, the initial version of Google Translate used statistical model machine translations. The accuracy wasn't very good, though; still, it's available, and the accessibility was higher with the computer technology revolution.

**Neural Machine Translation**

In 2015, Google significantly improved its previous Google translate algorithm by shifting it to a neural machine translation model. These translations using artificial intelligence were much quicker with higher accuracy. The best thing about these natural translations was that they could learn from mistakes and improve their outcomes with time. It was indeed the best translation technology we ever had, but still, the results would not always be accurate.

**Translation Industry Today **

After the COVID-19 pandemic, the translation industry has totally revolutionized, with more businesses creating localized brands and rapid globalization like never before. Language service providers are becoming stronger to make the most out of this opportunity. More technological tools are coming out every day for generating quick translations and effectively managing translation processes. To manage a localization project, one can use a [**cloud-based localization management platform**](https://www.marshub.com/) equipped with almost every tool you can think of for seamless brand localization.
Translation technology has not yet replaced humans, yet it has supported human translators to effectively go about their day-to-day translation work more efficiently and faster. The demand for professional translation was continuously increasing, and the machine translation market size was expected to grow at a CAGR of 14 percent.

**What Does the Future Hold for the Translation Industry?**

In the future, translation technology will indeed get more advanced with powerful algorithms and AI technology. It also seems to be more accessible and affordable to everyone. Translations would become easier with machines getting hold of the overall translation procedure, reducing human intervention. The translation is expected to become simpler and simpler with the latest technology that allows the image to text translations and voice translations in real time.

**Data Is Future**

Data is going to play a big role in the development of [**translation management system**](https://www.marshub.com/translation-management-system/) technology. AI translation algorithms need data to mature and generate more accurate outcomes. So, translation industry development is largely dependent on data science. Companies are also already active in gathering more data from multiple online resources to make their AL algorithms stronger and wiser. So, any company that wants to build its future in the translation sector needs to get its hands on data as soon as possible because, without data, there is no future.

**Will We Still Need Professional Translators?**

Well, it seems like the translation industry would never be able to completely rid itself of human translators and linguists. The translation industry revolution is very much like the industrial revolution. When people were afraid of losing jobs because machines had apparently replaced the labor workforce. But what happened exactly was: for every job lost, a new well-paid job was created that required less work and more expertise. Same thing you can expect from the translation industry as well. The translator might not be working as they have always been. Yet, we will definitely need more translators for MT engine supervision, proofreading, editing, QA testing, creating new algorithms, and feeding more data to the AI systems. There will be better and more highly-paid jobs for translators in the future.