RPL is a translation company that provides accurate translations between English and French. Their mission is to translate documents in technical, commercial, and other fields with a focus on information technology, automotive, training, and other industries. RPL aims to produce flawless, high-quality translations using best practices such as thorough terminology research and self-revision. They strive for 100% client satisfaction and have maintained a loyal client base. RPL works efficiently using methods like computerized terminology databases and electronic document sharing. They turn down work only if they cannot guarantee quality due to being overloaded. RPL aims to improve customer service systems and broaden their client base, especially in information technology.

1. RPL: Corporate Profile
Mission
Precise, accurate translation, revision and proof-reading, mainly from English to French and French to
English, of documents in technical, commercial, administrative, financial, human and artistic fields,
particularly and above all in its specialties:
• information technologies;
• automotive;
• personal and professional development;
• human resources;
• training;
• music;
• travel and tourism.
Rationale: No Margin for Error!
RPL’s slogan: “Words… Handled with Care…” producing impeccable translations and revisions
according to best practice. This last expression, “best practice”, refers to long-established, tried and true
methods and operating principles of the language professions, such as:
• unfailing thoroughness and exercise of systematic doubt regarding all aspects of translation and
writing (punctuation, grammar, syntax, idiomatic formulations, language level, meaning, hidden
nuances, possible errors in the source text, etc.);
• unfailing thoroughness;
• exercise of systematic doubt;
• avoidance of inferior language traps (solecisms, barbarisms, zeugmas, passive voice abuse, etc.);
• merciless war on vocabulary and syntactical calques (gallicisms, anglicisms, etc.) and improper
terms;
• research of the terminology recognized in the text’s various subject fields, using specialized
dictionaries, lexicons, vocabularies and terminology banks;
• hawk’s eye in self-revising, revising and proof-reading;
• suggestion to the client that we revise the source text for language quality based on competitive
revision rates if we discover errors in said source text;
• where applicable, revision of our translations and revisions by outside revisers (especially when the
source text’s subject is complex and beyond the realm of our training or professional language
experience).
How well and how far these methods and principles are applied ultimately makes or breaks the
translator/reviser and his/her work, determines the client’s level of satisfaction and, of course, shapes both
parties’ images, reputations and foundations. RPL firmly believes that any business or institutional entity
that exercises self-respect and highly values its clients and suppliers has to make sure all its written
documents use nothing but irreproachable language and terminology in order to acquire a brand image…
even better: a prestige image. Because written communication is the true reflection of any organization.

2. On this basis, RPL produces only one kind of work: top quality and faultless, so its clients can invest in a
capital gain of their images, reputations and foundations.
It is therefore small wonder that RPL has been able to acquire and maintain a loyal and gradually but
steadily growing client base ever since the firm’s genesis (see the “RPL’s Clients” document).
Efficiency
Here are a few examples of the methods RPL has made its own to increase efficiency:
• in its specialty fields and subjects, bypass the terminological research step that usually precedes
actual translation or revision: we translate or revise right away, and search unknown or unclear terms
as part of the translation or revision step;
• development of lexicons and vocabularies in each subject field: this computerizes terminological
research and saves time (reduces dependency on paper-bound dictionaries);
• self-revision done directly at the monitor screen: this eliminates having to print the source and target
texts, thus saving time and paper;
• reception of source texts (as far as possible) and sending of target texts by e-mail: this saves more
time and paper;
• filling out and sending of the invoice for any mandate by e-mail, as part of the same message as the
finished product or another message sent immediately afterwards: this prevents wasting time trying to
send a slew of invoices after a few weeks.
Competition
As a rule, RPL has no competitors, but rather colleagues we help and who help us. Usually, translators in
private practice help each other out a lot: they work one for another when overloaded, they form a team of
translators with a central reviser for a high-volume mandate with a tight deadline, they call each other for
quick terminological questions, etc. RPL has always preferred and promoted a family feeling, and
despised the “Us against Them” attitude.
If RPL is wary about any true competitors (in the “enemy” sense of the word), they are the “pseudo-
translators”, who undercut competitive rates just to nail the mandate and produce poor quality, or who
have never acquired the requisite formal training to become translators and believe it suffices to be
bilingual to translate professionally. You will always get your money’s worth. Professional-quality
written communication demands professional rates… and professional timelines, too: not at snail’s pace,
but not at throw-it-together pace either.
Sales and Marketing
For the moment, our marketing method focuses on personalized one-on-one encounters. We take part in
activities through the auspices of the Chambers of Commerce (Boards of Trade) we adhere to; business
and technology fairs, exhibitions and trade shows (Comdex, MIM, Expo TI Performance, etc.); and
conventions and conferences with motivational and entrepreneurial themes (Mentoring, Entrepreneurship,
etc.). Here are the projects we are planning on over the coming years:

3. • visit fairs, exhibitions and trade shows and participate in conventions and conferences aimed at the
world of business (Technological Solutions Forum, Canadian Marketing Association National
Convention and Trade Show, Montreal Internet Marketing Conference, Salon du Monde des Affaires,
etc.);
• place targeted advertisements in periodicals specialized in Information Technology (Direction
informatique, The Computer Paper, etc.) et focused on business in general (L’Autonome,
Entreprendre, Le Partenaire, etc.);
• adhere to Information Technology business associations;
• adhere to associations dedicated to developing and promoting entrepreneurial culture and mutual co-
operation among enterprises (the Entrepreneurs’ Web of the Fondation de l’Entrepreneurship, the
Communicators’ Web of Rebelles.com, etc.);
• develop a Web site and brochure for the marketing of our services;
• develop a stand (kiosk) for fairs, exhibitions, conventions and trade shows.
RPL’s market is mainly North American, and we have acquired several clients in the U.S.A. Although
we do not yet entertain any international marketing strategy, we are nevertheless open to serving
international markets.
Customer Service
As far as possible, we do our best never to say “No” to clients, and we take all humanly possible steps to
meet their deadline. We inform them of existing mandates we already have to complete, while respecting
confidentiality; if our schedule is tight and/or heavy, we make them aware of it. If we are really
overloaded and cannot do the work ourselves, we subcontract it out to another translator or reviser, then
we revise his/her work and control its quality. If all translators we usually trust and others we obtain
recommendation for are as overloaded as or more than we are, only at that point do we decline: we
largely prefer to refuse a mandate and thus protect our reputation and the client’s, rather than accept the
request anyway and risk producing inferior quality, which would not benefit anyone. It is always better to
be honest with the client and “tell it like it is”.
We always try to meet all the client’s needs and accommodate them in a friendly, cordial manner, and
even (why not!) with a bit of humor to lighten the grind (especially welcome when people are taking in
more than they can chew) and spread some sunshine in a grueling day. When we speak with a client, we
always make it a point never to forget that we are talking first and foremost with a human being.
In the short-to-mid term, we intend to improve customer service and make it more efficient and effective
by developing and implementing two computerized systems:
• automatic mandate confirmation sheet, purchase order number, and invoice generation and shipment;
• computerized customer relations follow-up and management.
Human Resources
To help us out during our overload periods, we have access to a network of other private-practice
translators. But internally, we prefer to assume full control of everything. We have, however, initiated
talks with two other translators to find out whether it is feasible to start up an umbrella translation firm.
Its mission would consist in bringing together several translation sole proprietorships, offering more

4. comprehensive language services in several fields, handling all marketing and sales under a single
business name, and possibly hiring the services of an internal employee or outside firm that would take
care of all non-language administrative considerations.
Challenges and Projects
In addition to the projects mentioned under “Sales and Marketing”, “Customer Service” and “Human
Resources”, over the coming years, RPL will strive to broaden its client base, especially towards
businesses in the Information Technology sector, its top-priority specialty.
Robert Jeffery
Owner, RPL