ACER realizes operational efficiency with translation pocket workflow customization
Empowering educational assessment experts with flexible, user-managed translation processes
Client Overview
The Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) is a respected independent educational research organization with a global footprint spanning multiple continents, with offices in Adelaide, Brisbane, Dubai, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, London, Melbourne, New Delhi, Perth, and Sydney.
As a premier developer of educational assessments and research materials, ACER creates content that requires precise translation into numerous languages to serve international educational markets. Their assessment development process necessitates efficient workflows between content specialists, psychometric experts, and translators, with each project having unique requirements based on the target audience, assessment type, and language-specific considerations that impact quality and accuracy.
The Challenge
ACER's translation management system utilized "translation pockets" - specialized work areas for translating source items from English into other languages - but was constrained by a rigid, single-defined workflow structure that lacked flexibility for different project requirements. Although customization capabilities existed in the backend system, they weren't accessible to users, necessitating separate translation pocket instances for projects requiring different workflows, which created inefficiency and wasted resources.
Content specialists and project managers lacked autonomy to tailor translation workflows to specific project needs
The rigid translation process couldn't accommodate variations in project requirements without creating completely separate instances
IT department involvement was required for even minor workflow adjustments, creating bottlenecks in project timelines
The Solution
Allion Technologies developed a user-friendly, interactive interface that empowered ACER's project staff to customize translation pocket workflows independently by adding or removing process stages according to specific project requirements. This dynamic solution eliminated the need for IT intervention in workflow configuration while maintaining system integrity and security protocols.
The enhancement allowed users to configure new workflows or adopt default templates for each translation pocket within a project, create multiple pockets with different workflows, assign appropriate staff roles, and receive warnings about incomplete role assignments, all while preventing workflow updates after translation had commenced to maintain process integrity.
Our Approach
Allion worked collaboratively with ACER's information technology department to design and implement a solution that balanced flexibility with process control, ensuring the enhancement would seamlessly integrate with existing systems while maintaining data security and quality standards. The implementation process focused on creating an intuitive user experience that would empower non-technical staff to manage complex workflow configurations without specialized training.
01
Conducted thorough analysis of existing translation processes to identify customization requirements
02
Employed AngularJs and NodeJs frameworks to develop functional requirements with a seamless user experience
03
Implemented and delivered the complete solution within an aggressive six-week timeframe
04
Ensured strict compliance with ACER's Secure Information Management Policies (ISO 27001/2 compliance)
Business Impact and Results
The workflow customization solution dramatically improved ACER's operational efficiency by eliminating technology barriers between content specialists and translation processes. Project staff gained the autonomy to design tailored workflows that precisely matched specific project requirements, eliminating the need for workarounds and separate system instances.
This streamlined approach reduced project setup times, decreased dependence on IT resources, and enhanced alignment between translation processes and assessment requirements. The implementation enabled ACER to handle more translation projects simultaneously while maintaining quality standards, ultimately supporting their ability to deliver culturally appropriate and linguistically accurate educational assessments to global markets with greater speed and efficiency.
