What happens when translation tech teams dream big

Rares Vasilescu Rares Vasilescu VP of Product Development 10 Mar 2025 7 mins 7 mins
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Hey, translation pros—freelancers wrestling with tight deadlines, LSPs keeping plates spinning and enterprise teams syncing global content—we’ve got something fresh to share.
 
We just wrapped up another Innovation Event, and it was a whirlwind of creativity and collaboration that left us buzzing. At RWS, innovation’s always simmering—it’s just what we do—but every year, we crank it up a notch, gathering in bigger numbers for these special moments. It’s when we toss barriers out the window, roll up our sleeves, and dive into a playground of new ideas, together.
 
This isn’t your run-of-the-mill ‘AI is the answer to everything’ pitch. Actually, you wouldn’t have seen any buzz-named “AI” theme when reading what we worked on.
 
It’s about sharp, practical ideas that actually matter to you—stuff that fits your day-to-day—and how we’re the crew diving headfirst into taking translation tech to fresh, thrilling places with Trados and Language Weaver. We’re not just dreaming up wild concepts; we’re prototyping solutions that could unlock new clients, streamline your workflows, or make quality headaches a thing of the past—things you’ll want to see in action because they’re built with your real-world challenges in mind, not some shiny tech fad.
 
Imagine this: our Trados and Language Weaver hundreds-strong crews, plus colleagues from Linguistic Services, IT, and beyond, got 10 wild days to ditch the daily grind. No “patch this” or “build that”—just pure freedom to dream up everything from bold new ways to grow to sneaky tricks for saving time and cash. The result? Over 150 ideas and more than 40 demos that wowed us.
 
We categorized them into areas such as ‘New,’ ‘Optimize,’ and ‘Love the Product,’ but what truly stood out was how these concepts extend beyond traditional translation boundaries—and tie directly into the priorities and challenges of your world.
 
Here’s a peek at what we’ve been cooking, and why it’s got us excited.

Fueling new possibilities in a transforming industry

The language services world is shifting fast—translators, linguists, and language service providers are asking if their traditional offerings still hold the same weight. They’re looking to stand out, expand their reach, and tap into their skills to deliver bold, value-adding services for companies and organizations globally. That’s where we’re stepping in—exploring ideas that don’t just stick to the old translation path. Imagine resources that transform terminology into a strategic asset for enterprises, or solutions that bring software developers into the fold with smooth, powerful localization workflows. We’re even exploring ways to spin content analysis into unexpected opportunities, or elevate projects in sectors like public services and education with clever, standout approaches.
 
We’re already working hand-in-hand with early customer prospects to bring these ideas to life, giving those first movers a head start while we fine-tune everything for broader impact down the line.
 
The language services world isn’t just about words on a page anymore—it’s evolving into something richer, something we may be calling multimodal languages. Think beyond text, where meaning dances across different forms, from gestures that carry deep cultural weight to spoken rhythms that pulse through underserved regions—say, the vibrant tongues of Africa. We’re cooking up ways to weave these layers into solutions that don’t just translate, but connect, opening doors for translators and LSPs to tackle projects that resonate in public spaces or classrooms worldwide. It’s a chance to stretch your skills into uncharted territory.

Streamlined operations, smarter results

Efficiency isn’t just a buzzword for us—it’s a priority, because we know you need solutions that save time and keep costs in check without compromising quality. Our cloud services have seen triple-digit volume growth year over year for several years now—proof of the trust and scale we’re delivering. You’d expect that kind of surge to spike disruptions or inflate maintenance costs, but here’s the kicker: our innovations are driving availability numbers steadily upward, with metrics climbing closer to that perfect 100% mark. We’re laser-focused on fine-tuning our technology to run like a well-oiled machine, whether that’s through playful innovations that turn routine upkeep into a money-saver or smart adjustments that lighten the load on resources. It’s all about delivering fast, reliable fixes and cutting the busywork, so you can focus on what matters most. Anyone can dream up big ideas, but we’re obsessed with the art of making them work—scaling them up to handle massive volumes while driving down costs, ensuring they don’t just shine in theory but thrive in the real world, for you and for us.
 
Just to give you one more example, how hard do you think it is to go from 97% accuracy to asymptotically close to 100% for a machine translation process? It’s a thousand times harder than it looks. And that’s exactly what one team demonstrated.

Tools that feel like a win

We’re all about making Trados and Language Weaver the tools you reach for with a smile. Imagine kicking off projects faster with setups that borrow from what’s worked before, or workflows so flexible they slot right into your bigger systems. How about a heads-up on usage and costs that keeps your planning sharp and your clients happy?
 
For quality lovers, we’re teasing smarter translations that actually get the context—perfect for compliance or brand vibes—plus guides and checks that lock in consistency without the grunt work. And yes, we’re playing with ways to weave visuals into the mix for translations that just click.
 
Translation Management Systems (TMS) and Machine Translation (MT) are staples in our world, but they’re not standing still—and neither are we. The future’s about more than automating tasks or churning out faster drafts; it’s about systems that think and adapt alongside you. Picture an approach where smart, agentic architectures—think of them as proactive digital teammates—anticipate your needs, juggle complex workflows, and fine-tune outputs on the fly, all while blending seamlessly into your bigger picture. At the Innovation Event, we showcased a handful of ideas that play in this space, hinting at how Trados and Language Weaver could evolve to not just manage or translate, but truly collaborate with you in ways that feel intuitive and powerful.

Little joys, big Impact

The user experience goodies really got us going. Think voice commands that feel like chatting with a friend, or quick audio notes to speed up teamwork.
 
We’re mulling over ways to track changes without the headache, undo mistakes in a snap, or even let you manage projects from your phone. There’s a dash of fun in the works too—maybe some playful nudges to reward hard work in new ways — plus dashboards that show off the value you’re getting, loud and clear.
 
Conversational experiences are here to stay and everyone knows now the “chat interface”. Is every text bot a chat opportunity? Or we need something smarter? Some say English is the new programming language. But what about all other languages, and what about people who don’t want to write a program but need a job to be done? We’ve seen innovations demonstrating how this can be applied into our field.

Why this matters

So why spill the beans? Because this event showed we’re not just tinkering for kicks. We’re a team that listens, experiments, and delivers—pushing Trados and Language Weaver to tackle the stuff that keeps you up at night, whether it’s winning new gigs, nailing brand voice, or just making work feel less like work. We’re not chasing buzzwords; we’re crafting tools that fit your reality.
 
As we dig into these 150+ ideas, we’re already plotting what’s next—some for 2025, others for the long game.
 
Take last year’s event: over 60% of those pioneering ideas made it to production, landing in customers’ hands and earning wide industry applause already. What’s this year got in store? We’re set to turn vision into action again—by the time you read this, some of these fresh concepts will already be live, proving their worth in the real world.
 
Trados and Language Weaver aren’t just tools—they’re your ticket to staying ahead in a field that never sits still. We’re all about turning clever ideas into real wins that make your work sharper and simpler—want to see how far this year’s innovations could take you? We’re already rolling them out, and there’s more to explore.
Rares Vasilescu
Author

Rares Vasilescu

VP of Product Development
With over 25 years in software development, Rares is a dynamic leader at RWS, transforming the Trados R&D team to focus on unified, cloud-first technology blended with traditional setups. He combines his PhD in Computer Science with a practical approach to AI, aiming to build adaptable software that enhances global communication. At RWS, Rares champions innovation and maintains a hands-on role in technology, always striving to bring people and ideas closer together.
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