Known in the language industry as “telephonic interpreting” or “Over-the-Phone Interpreting” (OPI), interpreting services done over the phone are extremely important in our diverse, modern, and fast-moving society. Regardless of whether you need to communicate with patients, business partners, or clients, having quick access to professional interpreters over the phone can enhance the ability of businesses and other organizations to connect and communicate with non-English speakers and multicultural populations.
As a result of a general lack of language skills and awareness of the needs of other cultures and Limited English Proficient (LEP) communities right here in the United States, some organizations are losing a significant amount of potential business. Clearly, telephonic interpreting is becoming more essential in U.S. markets with the nation’s increasing language diversity. Using professional telephone interpretation services is actually quite easy, regardless of whether you goal is to provide language access to non-English speaking patients, support communication needs for businesses, or provide exceptional customer support to diverse populations.
At Latitude Prime, we have your telephone interpreter service needs covered, providing “on-demand” access for over 200 languages and dialects, available 24/7/365.
What is Telephone Interpreting?
A telephone interpreter service connects individuals who want to communicate with each other but do not share a common language. The telephone interpreter typically uses a conference or three-way calling system to convert the language spoken by one party to another party in real time, or after one side has spoken, allowing the speakers to understand one another. In the past, this service was often managed from a large, physical call center, but the industry is now trending toward digital call centers, with all calls and call routing managed in the cloud. With great advances in technology, it is now often possible to be able to access an interpreter over the phone in less than 30 seconds.
Telephone interpreting services are highly useful in cases in which two parties need to communicate with each other via telephone or where there is no time to locate an interpreter to physically come on-site. These include, for example:
- Calls made to emergency dispatchers
- Customer service calls from consumers to call centers
- Calls that involve the review of applications made over the phone
- In hospital or clinical settings where it is impractical to keep interpreters on staff for dozens of languages
Therefore, over-the-phone interpretation (OPI) services can provide immediate assistance in overcoming language barriers regardless of the of the language involved, since interpreters can be based anywhere in the country (or world) and can be brought on the line within seconds to help in critical and emergency situations.
Some Other Advantages of Over-the-Phone Interpreting (OPI)
Here are some other key benefits provided by telephone interpreting services for businesses, organizations, and customers:
- Minimizes wait times and communication errors;
- Quick responses possible for emergency or urgent situations;
- Improves the satisfaction of customers and patients;
- Improves efficiency of operations;
- Helps reach and keep multicultural consumers;
- Available in hundreds of languages and dialects;
- Less costly than an on-site interpreter;
- Enhances brand reputation in the local community;
- Simple and easy-to-use system with no special equipment needed.
Finally, just like on-site/in-person interpreters, telephone interpreters are rigorously screened and vetted before being permitted to interpret for a client. They also specialize in a variety of fields, including medical/healthcare, law, and many others. By utilizing professional, experienced interpreters, along with state-of-the-art call routing technology, you are always ensured to receive the highest quality interpreting services available.
To learn about the telephone interpreter service we offer at Latitude Prime, call us today at 888.341.9080 or reach us by email at contact@latitudeprime.com.
