This document discusses modernizing pricing and business models in the translation industry. It questions whether pricing per word is still relevant and if translation has become a commodity. It also explores setting quality frameworks, changing technology licensing models, how suppliers can remain profitable and buyers can meet financial goals, and alternative engagement models like managed services and all-you-can-eat pricing. The document examines various options and what needs to change regarding economic models and how technology may drive or constrain redefining these models.

1. Modernizing Pricing and
Business Models

2. Wayne Bourland
Chris Grebisz
John Tinsley

3. The Options – What Are They?

4. Is price per word still relevant?
Is our industry still defined by the words we
translate?
Has translation become a commodity? Do we really
know how our prices are formed?

5. Quality – how can we set pre-defined frameworks for
the quality we sell and buy? Is it possible to know
quality without tracking to every specific resource?

6. How will technology licensing models change?

7. Is technology a driver or a constraint for redefining
economic models? What needs to change?

8. How do suppliers remain profitable and grow?
How does the buyer meet their financial
performance KPIs (aka “save”)?

9. What about alternative engagement models –
managed services? “All-you-can-eat”?

10. Buying and selling non-translation services – what’s
changing?