This content was created in partnership with Wordly and SkiftX, Skift’s branded content studio.
In today’s world, where meetings are increasingly globalized and participants are diverse, effective communication has never been more important. Breaking down language barriers goes to the heart of accessibility and is a top priority for planners. At the same time, the “Freeman 2024 Trends Report” pointed out that easy access to educational content is the most valuable aspect of online events.
International audiences are nothing new at business events, but expectations have increased due to advances in event technology. Arguably the fastest growing technology across all industries, artificial intelligence is proving to be a valuable and affordable tool for translation needs as planners are asked to find the most cost-effective and time-efficient solutions. .
Wordly, a provider of instant AI translation and subtitles for business events, recently surveyed 205 marketing and sales professionals in the United States and the United Kingdom who manage meetings and events to understand trends requiring powerful translation tools.
talking points
The global economy has changed the way companies work and talk. While English remains the language of choice for U.S. companies and organizations, it is not necessarily the native language of employees and other meeting and event attendees.
Wordly’s research found that 79% of planners said the number of attendees whose native language is not English is increasing. Meanwhile, 53% of respondents said at least a quarter of attendees’ first language is not English.
With these numbers in mind, it’s no surprise that 88% of event management professionals said they witnessed attendees speaking at least two languages other than English during their event. Forty percent of planners surveyed said at least six languages were used in their meetings, demonstrating the diversity of events.
In a time when equity, diversity, and inclusion are at the core of meeting planners’ missions, they have a responsibility to ensure that information is shared with attendees as accurately and efficiently as possible. In fact, 94% of respondents said that allowing everyone to participate in their own language leads to better results.
“Most meetings and events, whether in person or virtual, will have attendees who speak different native languages,” said Dave Deasy, chief marketing officer at Wordly. “Forward-thinking organizations are doing this by empowering everyone to speak their own language.” Language engagement is chosen to embrace global opportunities which increases inclusion, engagement and learning.
Turning to artificial intelligence
Engagement with multilingual participants requires minimizing communication lags, a fact that is evident in the planners’ process. More than three-quarters of respondents (77%) said they already use instant translation and subtitle options to speed up the process.
Technology will only further seamlessly integrate translation into programming. Artificial intelligence is integral to many elements of the campaign, and it has proven to be an effective tool in translation solutions like Wordly.
Planners using AI tools to break down language barriers cite three particular benefits:
- Time saved (64%): Faster than humans; no research to identify reputable vendors.
- Lower costs (60%): Pay a flat rate for all languages instead of paying by language.
- Simplified logistics (54%): No need to book translators or ensure they are in the right location.
As a result, 96% of respondents said AI delivers a higher ROI than human translation. Wordly’s research found that most planners have already adopted AI-based tools – 62% have some experience with AI translation – and 82% of non-users have not yet planned to use or are considering using them.
“Wordly solves multilingual challenges with an easy-to-use and affordable solution powered by artificial intelligence,” said Deasy. “More than 3 million people around the world have used Wordly and rave about the speed and quality of their output.”
In Wordly’s reports, you’ll also find:
- How real-time translation impacts a company’s DEI strategy
- Why instant translation helps CEOs and planners report higher event ROI
- Challenges of adopting translation solutions
- Areas where artificial intelligence can improve
- How Artificial Intelligence Compares to Human Translation
Download Wordly’s report here or schedule Get a free AI translation assessment with Wordly.
This content was created in partnership with Wordly and SkiftX, Skift’s branded content studio.
