Dear all, following on this morning's discussion about Language Services, please be so kind to consider the following suggested text for recommendations, in addition to the recommendations which have already been suggested. -- begin text --- Whilst it is recognised that there has been a significant improvement in the Language Services Department, the Translation Services component should evolve to be able to sustain a significant increase in activity. This shift from a craft-based ad-hoc supply/demand to a continuous industrial pipeline of documents involves: * the ability to accurately predict the time to translate a document at any time around the year, based on the knowledge of historical periodic activity (past ICANN meeting cycles, peak periods, holidays etc.); * the ability to predict peaks of activity pro-actively and dynamically modulating capacity to supplement permanent staff using a pool of additional freelance translators on demand to smooth out peak delays; * the ability for clients (SO/ACs etc.) to automatically track the status of their translation request (use of a CRM system) * the ability to automatically compile metrics on document translation timeliness * the implementation of a feedback path from the community to improve Language Services with native speaker input * the implementation of best practice documentation to harmonize translation quality and accuracy between experienced permanent and new or freelance translators * benchmarking of procedures with similar international organisations, the most significant being the United Nations Language and Interpretation Services --- end text --- Kind regards, Olivier