Organisations are switching to remote-first interpreting

In 2019, interpreting accounted for about 7% of the global language services market, while written translation dominated at 79%. By 2025, the landscape shifted: interpreting rose to 22% and written translation adjusted to 47% (CSA Research, 2025 ). The demand for interpreting is surging, fueled by rapid technological advancements.

For decades, interpreting remained largely unchanged, constantly battling two factors: time and money. Today, tech-driven solutions have made interpreting faster and more affordable, opening doors for more people to access professional language support.

Availability: Finding an interpreter in an emergency used to be a challenge. On-demand systems now connect clients with experts in real-time.

Cost: Traditionally, clients paid for travel expenses and a minimum one-hour fee (even for a 15-minute conversation). Remote interpreting allows for per-minute billing, making short sessions cost-effective.

Language selection: Physical location is no longer a barrier. For rare language pairs, remote platforms provide access to global experts instantly.

Remote interpreting in Europe

Remote interpreting via phone or video has become the preferred choice for daily administrative tasks across Europe. While the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated this shift, the benefits have made it a permanent fixture.

In Finland, for example, 86% of the City of Helsinki’s interpreting requests were handled remotely as early as 2023 (Slator, 2023 ), This shift has allowed public sector clients to save approximately 40% of their interpreting budgets compared to traditional on-site services (Slator, 2023 ), Today, over 1,000 users engage with the Youpret app daily in Finland.

Why prefer remote interpreting?

Remote solutions provide access to language support in minutes, not days. It is the top choice for healthcare, government, and business for several strategic reasons:

1. Accessibility. Youpret acts as an "interpreter in your pocket." No more postponing appointments while waiting for someone to arrive physically.

2. Cost savings. Save up to 40% by eliminating travel fees and minimum hourly rates. You only pay for the minutes you actually use.

3. Wider language range. Connect with specialists across Europe to find languages or dialects that may not be available locally in Estonia.

4. Sustainability. Remote work reduces carbon footprint by cutting out transportation and allows interpreters to serve more clients efficiently.

When is on-site interpreting necessary?

While digital solutions cover most needs, some situations require a physical presence. Youpret also offers on-site bookings for:

• Sensitive situations. Breaking difficult medical news or crisis counseling where body language and eye contact are vital for building trust.

• Official proceedings. Notary transactions or court hearings where a physical signature and identity verification are legally required.

• Complex group dynamics. Workshops, trainings or site visits where participants move around, making a screen or phone impractical.

• Large events. Conferences and full day events require simultaneous interpreting with interpreting equipment to ensure a seamless experience for a large audience.

Whether you need an instant remote interpreter via our app, an on-site professional for a high-stakes event, or expert written translation for your documents, Youpret can help you.

Contact us via info@youpret.ee or call us +372 526 6168.

Download the app via Play Store or App Store.

If you are new to remote interpreting, you can also download a Customer's Guide to remote interpreting.