Our Analysts' Insights

Recently CSA Research launched the third edition of our oft cited “Can’t Read, Won’t Buy” research. We originated this topic of research in 2006 and continue to provide companies worldwide with the reliable data they need to plan and execute effective international growth strategies. When you encounter data like this from us or any other source, put on your data scientist hat and ask these two questions: what is the population and is it a representative sample?

CSA Research surveyed freelance linguists worldwide in mid- to late April to see how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected them as providers of language services. These are the overall results from the 1,228 responses received from 100 countries.

Wouldn’t it be great if we could eliminate the Rashomon effect from the language services and technology industry? If somehow, we didn’t have to rely on guesses, estimations, or conjectures? That’s exactly what CSA Research does.

In languages worldwide, the word “recession” is being used with increasing frequency on financial news websites and Twitter. Google searches for “recession” peaked in mid-August and remain higher than at any point in the past five years. Economists have their indicators for the broad economy and CSA Research has ours for the language services and technology market. The data from our mid-year business confidence survey shows that LSPs should prepare for a potential slowdown.

Reliable market research and industry sizing is a science. CSA Research’s annual market sizing project benefits language service and technology providers by producing reliable and actionable data they can use in their planning. Buyers of these services, whether enterprises or governmental agencies, use this data to educate themselves on the market. Investors and the media rely on it to frame and evaluate the potential of the sector.

Our preliminary review of the survey responses to CSA Research’s annual Global Market Study focused on the 195 largest companies in our Top LSPs™ rankings. The results show that a majority of these market leaders increased their revenue over the previous year with the same or higher profit margins.