In today’s global market, there is even more energy consumption than ever before. This, in turn, means that the costs of energy resources are increasing. With renewable energies and climate change at the forefront of our minds, the energy sector is growing with an even bigger demand worldwide. But what does this mean for communication in the sector?
Communication in the Energy Sector
Let’s face it, most native English speakers (in the UK and USA specifically) are largely only able to communicate in their mother tongue. Of course, there are exceptions and there are many bilingual (and even multilingual) people across the world. Indeed, research says that the UK economy loses around £48bn of contracts each year because of its workforce’s lack of language skills. Inevitably, other workforces fill this lack and therefore they become the profit-makers.
Given the global nature of the energy market, companies must be able to communicate with others in other languages no matter their role in the chain. Whether an energy generator, distributor or customer services representative, being able to communicate in the industry has never been more important.
Companies in the energy sector often lack the skills needed to meet the communication needs of the international market.
Communication Equals Growth
Successful businesses are forward-thinking. They look for gaps in the markets and seek improvements that can be made to their products or services so that they are able to offer something that their competitors don’t. In today’s globalized world, communicating well and accurately is essential. To mobilize a product or service on the international market, businesses need to ensure that all their marketing materials, websites, documents and engineering materials meet the needs of that market. Having the correct language and communication skills to be able to do that is a great and enviable asset. Essentially, being able to offer documentation and communication about products and services in other languages globally will bring in more return on investment. Indeed, a lack of communication in different languages works effectively as a tax on growth.
Meeting the Communication Needs of Energy Sector Companies
Companies in the energy sector often lack the skills needed to meet the communication needs of the international market. As such, companies such as Circle Translations offer specific translation packages for the energy sector which enable the business to operate in different languages. As mentioned above, communication equals growth. By opening the energy company’s services to speakers of other languages and in different geographical locations, there is a much bigger potential for company growth and profit.
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Cost-Cutting Locations
Many energy companies these days are changing their business locations to those in more cost-effective areas. With today’s possibilities for global communication, it is easy for businesses to choose to move their offices and customer service teams to parts of the world with lower operating costs. However, businesses must ensure consistent and effective communication for maximum ROI and smooth operations. This includes communications in local languages.
Sector Growth and the Demand for Different Languages
The growth that the market has already seen in the energy sector, particularly when it comes to renewable energy, has resulted in a greater demand for energy translation services. Communicating on the topic of hydropower, solar energy, wind power, nuclear power, geothermal energy, and, of course, coal power, has never needed as many language skills before. Aside from the detailed level of language communication needed, it is also essential that energy businesses consider their language abilities for trade purposes too.
Many energy companies these days are changing their business locations to those in more cost-effective areas.
Language and Communication Expertise in the Energy Sector
Some of the areas of language expertise that are essential for communicating within the energy sector are:
- Recycling
- Water management
- Waste treatment
- Electricity
- Oil and gas
- Nuclear energy
Aside from being able to communicate generally about these areas in different languages within the sector, there also needs to be more specialized communication at times too. It simply is not enough to get Junita from accounts to write your energy company’s contracts and site agreements because she happens to be bilingual. Communicating in different languages within this sector takes a lot more consideration. In addition to contracts and agreements, important materials and company information must be communicated effectively and accurately. For an energy company, this could include press releases, health and safety reports, equipment manuals and user guides, presentations, diagnostic materials, technical specifications, marketing materials, safety manuals, survey reports as well as catalogues and website information.
In-House Language Skills
Having someone in-house who can meet those demands is not always practical or possible, even if you do have Juanita in accounts! Investing in a service that is dedicated to translation in your business’s specific field is the preferred option for those businesses that do not have their own dedicated translation department. Such services do not just invest time in getting the language right either. Communicating in different languages is not just about the words said or spoken, it is about understanding the culture too. Creating an advertisement that is funny in the USA will not necessarily be comical in Latin America. Winning international contracts depends on all these factors coming together to create smooth communication channels in different languages. Going global means just that – global in your languages offered.
The Takeaway
When working with the energy sector, communicating in different languages means more than just being able to ask local workers for directions to the CEO’s office. Successful communication in business is what drives it forward in today’s ever-growing world. Humans are always going to need energy in one form or another. And, whilst hundreds of languages continue to exist globally, energy companies must grow to meet the demands of all of earth’s citizens to ensure economic growth. Being able to communicate in different languages is just one way of meeting those global demands.
