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Why Us — Comparison of Alafranga with Platforms, Generalist Agencies, and Single-Language Specialists

Platform / Marketplace Generalist Multilingual Agency Single-Language Specialist Alafranga Language Solutions
Business model Automated matching — client uploads file, algorithm assigns translator Full-service agency covering all languages and domains with generalist vendor pool One language pair, typically one or two translators operating independently Founder-led specialist agency — Turkish at the core, 40+ languages expanded through real client demand
Who makes decisions Algorithm Project manager — often no domain background The translator Volkan Güvenç, founder and director, active in every client relationship since 2002
Accountability Platform terms of service Account manager — may change The individual translator Named founder with 23 years of institutional knowledge and direct accountability
Turkish capability Translator pool of variable quality — no structural guarantee of Turkish specialisation Turkish is one language among many — typically handled by a generalist vendor, not a Turkish specialist Strong if the specialist is genuinely qualified — no surrounding infrastructure Turkish founding language pair — active since 2002, specialist vendor network, TSE terminology knowledge, regulatory framework coverage
Language depth vs breadth Breadth only — no structural depth in any language Breadth — all languages, variable depth Depth in one pair — no capacity for multilingual programmes Depth in Turkish + structured capacity in 40+ languages — every language added through real client demand, not catalogue expansion
Vendor selection Automated or semi-automated — lowest bidder or availability-based Vendor pool — selection criteria vary, often opaque The specialist themselves — or a small fixed team 5,100+ vendor records, ~2,000 active specialists meeting quality and pricing criteria — selected by language pair, domain, CAT tool proficiency, and performance history
Subject-matter expertise Not guaranteed — translator self-declares specialisation Variable — dependent on which vendor is assigned Strong if the specialist is genuinely domain-qualified Domain-matched selection — engineering, legal, medical, energy, automotive, industrial automation — verified through real project performance, not self-declaration
ISO 17100:2015 certification Rarely — platform model is incompatible with ISO 17100 workflow requirements Sometimes — certification level varies Rarely — individual specialists cannot certify under ISO 17100 ✅ ISO 17100:2015 certified — audited by Bureau Veritas
Independent review Not structural — depends on translator Sometimes — often self-review or light post-editing Rarely — self-review is standard ✅ Structural — every HumanExpert project includes a second independent specialist working from source
ATC membership Not applicable Sometimes Not applicable ✅ ATC and EUATC member since 2007
AI-assisted workflow Generic MT — no TM or glossary governance, no controlled prompting Variable — often uncontrolled MT with light post-editing Variable — individual translators using MT tools independently ✅ SmartEdit — AI draft via API inside MemoQ or SDL Trados, TM and glossary applied at prompt level, human review before every delivery
Translation memory Sometimes — often platform-owned, not client-specific Sometimes — may or may not be maintained across projects Sometimes — maintained by the individual ✅ Client-specific TM built and maintained across all projects — client owns their TM assets
Glossary governance Rarely structural Sometimes — quality varies Sometimes ✅ Client-specific glossary applied at prompt level for SmartEdit and locked in CAT tool for all workflows
Shared TM for team projects Not applicable — single-translator model Variable — depends on infrastructure Not applicable ✅ Real-time shared TM — all translators on the same project connected to the same memory simultaneously
CAT tools Platform-native — not always compatible with client tools MemoQ or SDL Trados — usually Varies by individual ✅ MemoQ and SDL Trados natively — client-specific configuration
Project management platform Platform dashboard Internal PM software — varies Email and file exchange ✅ ]Project Open[ — open-source, hosted in Spain, active since 2009 — client and translator portals, full project history queryable since 2009
LSP / white-label capability Not applicable Sometimes — depends on agency policy Not applicable ✅ White-label Turkish translation for LSPs — inside client tools, under client brand, NDA standard, CAT discount matrix compatible
Data privacy Platform terms govern data handling — data may be used for model training Variable — depends on agency policy and tools Variable ✅ Client content processed inside CAT tool via controlled API — never used to train public models, NDA standard
GDPR compliance Platform-level — not always granular Variable Variable ✅ GDPR-compliant workflows — data handling documented per project
Regulatory documentation Not suitable — no structural quality guarantee Variable — depends on vendor assigned Suitable if the specialist has regulatory experience ✅ CE technical files, KVKK compliance, BDDK/SPK/EPDK submissions, TSE standards terminology — active regulatory documentation experience since 2002
TSE standards terminology Not available — no structural mechanism for standards reference Rarely — not a stated capability Only if the individual specialist maintains active standards access ✅ Active TSE and TS EN standards reference — evirici vs invertör, fesih vs iptal, signal word conventions, Machinery Directive documentation
Sworn translation Available through platform — quality not structurally guaranteed Available — quality depends on vendor Available if the specialist is a registered sworn translator ✅ Available — fully human HumanExpert workflow, no AI involvement
Subtitle localization Sometimes — generalist subtitlers Sometimes — variable media specialisation Rarely ✅ Alafranga Media — Disney+ and Fox TV credits, dedicated PM and specialist team, separate operation at subtitlelocalization.com
DTP and file engineering Rarely — translation only Sometimes — outsourced Rarely ✅ In-house DTP — InDesign, Illustrator, QuarkXPress, multilingual layout, bidirectional text, CJK character handling
Multilingual programme management Not suitable — single-project model Available — but consistency across languages variable Not suitable — single language pair ✅ Multilingual programmes — one point of contact, shared glossaries, consistent QA across 40+ languages simultaneously
Client references — regulated industries Not typically verifiable Variable Variable ExxonMobil, Rolls-Royce, Siemens Gamesa, Daikin, Zeiss, Mitutoyo, Fluke, Schell GmbH, Oman Oil Company, Solplanet/AISWEI
Client references — legal Not typically verifiable Variable Variable Squire Patton Boggs, Ocean Works, European legal firms — Turkish jurisdiction, KVKK compliance, arbitration documentation
Client references — technology Not typically verifiable Variable Variable OpenAI, Getac, LetsGrow.com, Neuro.net, Playata, HiRez
Continuity across projects Not guaranteed — different translator each time Variable — depends on vendor availability Strong if the specialist is available ✅ Structural — same translators retained across client programmes, TM and glossary continuity built into every project
Communication Platform ticketing system Account manager Direct with the translator Direct with founder or senior PM — no account manager layer
Transparency Platform dashboard — limited visibility into process Variable High — direct with translator ✅ Full — translator and reviewer identities available on request, AI engine and prompt version disclosed for SmartEdit projects
Founded Varies — most platforms post-2010 Varies Varies 2002 — Istanbul. Alafranga Europe Ltd registered in London.
Headquarters Varies — often US or platform-native Varies Varies 71–75 Shelton Street, London WC2H 9JQ — registered in England and Wales
Target market Volume buyers — price-sensitive, low complexity General corporate — all industries, all languages Clients with a specific single-language need European industrial, legal, and technology companies with Turkish language requirements — and LSPs needing a specialist Turkish back-office partner