4 reasons why you should try remote interpreting

In many countries, remote interpreting has already become an everyday way of providing language access. In Iceland, however, on-site interpreting still plays a major role.

There will always be situations where having an interpreter physically present is the right choice. But for many everyday interpreting needs, remote interpreting can offer significant advantages for both clients and interpreters.

At Youpret, we have seen this development first-hand in Finland. Finnish public authorities used to order only onsite interpretation, but during the COVID pandemic they tested remote interpreting and discovered that it can make interpreting faster, more flexible and more cost-efficient without compromising on quality.

So, why give remote interpreting a try?

1. Better cost-efficiency, bigger share for the interpreters

Travel does not only take time, it also costs money. On-site interpreting can involve travel expenses and additional charges related to the interpreter's travel time. Remote interpreting can significantly reduce these costs. For organisations that use interpreting frequently, the difference can become substantial.

Remote interpreting can also make costs more predictable. Instead of paying for the logistics surrounding an interpreting assignment, organisations can focus their resources on the interpreting itself. Choosing remote interpreting maintains high service standards while leveraging technology to deliver professional interpreting more efficiently. The efficient Youpret interpreting intermediation system enables our interpreters to get a bigger share of the customer payment than with the traditional providers.

2. Save time for both clients and interpreters

Consider a 30-minute interpreting appointment. With on-site interpreting, the assignment itself may take only 30 minutes, but the interpreter may spend considerably more time travelling to and from the location. With remote interpreting, that time can be used for actual interpreting instead.

For organisations, this makes arranging interpreting simpler, more flexible and cost-efficient. There is no need to coordinate travel or allow extra time for an interpreter to arrive. You pay for the language expertise the interpreter provides, not the kilometers travelled.

For interpreters, reducing travel means that more of the working day can be spent doing the work they are trained to do. An interpreter can move from one remote assignment to another without travelling between locations. This means they can take more assignments to their work day if they wish. This also creates more flexibility. Interpreters can accept assignments from different parts of the country regardless of where they live.

3. Remote interpreting works in demanding public services too

Remote interpreting is not limited to simple or occasional conversations. Finland provides a useful example of how extensively remote interpreting can be integrated into public services. According to language industry publication Slator, approximately 86% of interpreting for the City of Helsinki is performed remotely. Around 80% of the interpreting services used by the City of Helsinki take place in social and health service settings, including hospitals, schools and immigration centres. These are environments where clear and reliable communication is essential.

The Helsinki example shows that remote interpreting can become part of everyday service delivery even in organisations handling large volumes of interpreting and a wide variety of situations. Organisations can flexibly use both remote and on-site interpreting according to their needs and choose the best option for each situation.

Read more about how the Employment services in the City of Espoo and The Wellbeing Services County of Southwest Finland have utilized Youpret's remote interpreting.

4. Better working conditions for interpreters and more privacy for clients

Remote interpreting can also improve the way interpreting work is organised. Without unnecessary travel between assignments, interpreters can use their working hours more efficiently and potentially accept more assignments. They can also work with clients across a much larger geographical area. This is especially relevant in smaller markets and communities.

There is another important benefit: privacy. In a relatively small country such as Iceland, an interpreter and client may know each other personally or belong to the same community. Remote interpreting gives service providers access to interpreters beyond their immediate geographical area, making it easier to avoid situations where personal connections could make the encounter uncomfortable for the client.

At Youpret, we believe technology should benefit both sides of the interpreting service. More efficient service can mean easier access and more predictable costs for clients, while also creating flexible working opportunities for professional interpreters.

Could remote interpreting work for your organisation?

Remote interpreting seamlessly complements on-site interpreting, offering versatile options for different situations. Organisations can flexibly choose according to the situation when it is best to use an on-site interpreter and when remote interpreting provides an equally effective solution.

This approach is already widely used in Finland. Our experience has shown that once clients try remote interpreting, many quickly recognise the convenience, flexibility and cost-efficiency they can offer.

Youpret provides both remote and on-site interpreting by appointment in Iceland.

Why not try your next interpreting session remotely?

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