New Research Reveals UK Companies’ Ability to Adapt to Trade Overseas

New research by ATC member company The Translation People reveals that four out of five businesses that trade overseas plan to grow their global footprint further in the next five years.

According to the findings, a quarter (23%) of UK-based businesses that trade internationally have experienced an increase in overseas activity, and a further quarter have increased their targeting of new international markets since 31^st January 2020 – when the UK left the EU.

The research involving 500 individuals in senior positions within business with a direct involvement in international trade revealed the ambitions of international companies and the changes they have made to their operations since Britain left the EU and became impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.

When asked what their biggest barriers were to overseas growth in the next 12 months, almost two in five (39%) stated supply chain issues, 36% said rising business costs, a quarter (26%) said labour shortages and 23% said overseas conflict.

Commenting on the impact the pandemic had on operations, more than three quarters (77%) said remote working has made them realise they don’t need to travel internationally as regularly, and as such 65% of businesses are actively reducing air travel to lower their carbon emissions. However, this has put greater reliance on online communications channels and services which allow companies to easily liaise with overseas teams that speak different languages.

For example, a fifth of businesses said that over the next 12 months they’re going to explore tools and services like remote interpreting and live captioning for the first time. On top of that, three out of five businesses (58%) currently use multilingual voiceover and subtitling translations, which can be used for content such as marketing videos, with a further 18% planning to use these services for the first time in the next 12 months.

The use of translation services is also supporting businesses who increasingly find themselves with remote and international teams due to their growth.

While 78% said it is important to produce e-learning modules in employees’ home language to achieve staff morale and engagement, 66% said language issues are a challenge when training overseas teams. As a result, almost six out of ten businesses (57%) now use multilingual voiceovers and subtitling for staff-facing content and meetings, and a further 16% will use it for the first time in the next 12 months, with 84% saying they believe employee wellbeing is increased when staff have access to content in their own language.

Finally, 65% of international businesses already invest in marketing and design translation services, and a further 15% will for the first time in the next 12 months, with 75% saying they have seen an increase in international sales and conversions when marketing materials like their website, social media, packaging and apps are localised into the language of the target audience.

The findings of the research by ATC member company The Translation People have now been published in an industry-facing whitepaper, which further explores the link between international business operations and the use of translation tools and services.

Alan White, business development director for The Translation People, said: “The last few years have seen a plethora of challenges for businesses. Brexit, the Coronavirus pandemic, war in Ukraine, rising material costs, cost of living crisis and the effects of climate change have combined to create a particularly turbulent landscape.”

“This might have left many business owners wondering what their next steps should be to protect their people, their profits and the planet – but the results of the research actually paint a fairly positive picture of business intention today.”

“Despite all the challenges they’ve faced, businesses appear to have adapted and are making clear plans for growth in the coming years, utilising different services – like translation – to achieve their targets. Whether it’s reconsidering travel, training their teams or improving their marketing materials, businesses have strategies in place to continue capitalising on all the benefits international trade brings with it.”

“Our role now is to continue providing insight and guidance on how different approaches to translation can support operations so businesses to navigate these uncertain times and achieve their overseas objectives. Doing so will help ensure the UK remains at the epicentre of international trade.”

Download the research report from https://www.thetranslationpeople.com/international-business-report-2022-2023/.