At Okodia, quality is more than a promise — it is part of every process we follow. That is why we are certified under ISO 17100, ISO 18587 and ISO 9001 standards. These internationally recognised certifications help us guarantee high-quality translation and post-editing services for every client.
Quality in Translation: Okodia’s Commitment to ISO Standards
At Okodia, quality is not just a promise — it is part of every step of our translation process. That is why we are certified under ISO 17100, ISO 18587 and ISO 9001 standards, internationally recognised certifications that guarantee high levels of quality, consistency and process control.
In practice, these ISO translation standards help ensure that every translation and post-editing project follows clearly defined procedures carried out by qualified professionals. Whether you need specialised translation services or machine translation post-editing, working with an ISO-certified translation company provides additional peace of mind and reliability.
In this article, we explain what these standards are, why they matter and how Okodia applies them in everyday translation projects.
What Are ISO Translation Standards?
ISO standards are internationally recognised guidelines designed to ensure consistent levels of quality, safety and efficiency across different industries. For translation companies, these standards help guarantee that projects are handled using reliable processes, qualified professionals and clearly defined quality controls.
As a result, certification under ISO standards provides clients with additional confidence, as it demonstrates that the company follows procedures established by independent experts to deliver high-quality services.
How Does ISO Certification Work?
In Spain, ISO certifications are issued by accredited organisations such as AENOR and Bureau Veritas. Before obtaining certification, companies must review and adapt their internal processes to ensure they comply with all the requirements established by the relevant ISO standard.
Once these processes are implemented, external auditors assess both company documentation and real projects to verify that procedures are consistently followed in day-to-day operations.
The certification process usually includes two phases:
- Documentation review, where auditors verify that all procedures and workflows are correctly documented and applied.
- Operational audit, where real projects, workflows and team practices are reviewed to confirm compliance with the standard.
However, once certification has been granted, companies must continue undergoing periodic audits to ensure continuous compliance and improvement.
What Certifications Does Okodia Hold?
Okodia currently holds the following certifications:
- ISO 17100:2015 for translation services
- ISO 18587:2017 for machine translation post-editing services
- ISO 9001:2015 for quality management systems
These certifications reflect our commitment to delivering professional translation services through structured and continuously monitored quality processes.
ISO 17100: Translation Service Requirements
ISO 17100 is the leading international quality standard for translation services. Rather than evaluating the quality of a single translation, it focuses on the entire translation process followed by certified companies.
The standard establishes specific requirements regarding translator qualifications, revision procedures, project management and quality assurance workflows. Its objective is to ensure that every translation project follows a structured process designed to deliver accurate and reliable results.
Key Requirements of ISO 17100
- Translators must hold a degree in translation, a degree in another discipline plus two years of professional translation experience, or at least five years of translation experience.
- Every translation must be reviewed by a second qualified linguist.
- Final proofreading may be required depending on the project.
- Project managers must coordinate workflows and ensure compliance with quality procedures.
How Okodia Applies ISO 17100
At Okodia, all translations are carried out by experienced professional translators specialised in the relevant subject area. Each project is coordinated by a dedicated project manager and reviewed by a second linguist to ensure accuracy, consistency and compliance with ISO translation standards.
We also use a specialised translation management system that allows us to monitor project status, deadlines, workflows and quality procedures efficiently.
Our process typically includes:
- Project preparation and client briefing
- Translation
- Bilingual review
- Proofreading where applicable
- Final quality control
- Delivery
- Feedback and continuous improvement
Before starting any project, our team collects detailed instructions and client preferences to ensure all requirements are fully respected throughout the translation process.
ISO 18587: Machine Translation Post-Editing
ISO 18587 is the international standard specifically developed for machine translation post-editing services. It establishes the best practices that translation companies must follow when combining machine translation technology with human linguistic revision.
This standard focuses on full post-editing, where professional linguists review and correct machine-translated content to achieve a result comparable to human translation in terms of quality, fluency and accuracy.
Key Requirements of ISO 18587
- Post-editors must meet translation qualification requirements and possess specific post-editing skills.
- Content must be analysed beforehand to determine whether it is suitable for machine translation.
- Companies must monitor the performance of machine translation systems.
- Post-edited content must meet strict linguistic, terminological and formatting standards.
How Okodia Applies ISO 18587
Before offering machine translation post-editing services, our team analyses the content to determine whether it is suitable for machine translation. Depending on the type of text and the client’s requirements, we may also adapt certain elements to improve machine translation performance and reduce the amount of post-editing required.
Our post-editors are trained professionals specialised in machine translation revision and familiar with computer-assisted translation tools and machine translation engines.
For each assignment, project managers provide detailed instructions to ensure compliance with both ISO standards and client-specific requirements. Once the project is completed, post-editors also evaluate the quality of the machine translation output to help monitor system performance and improve future workflows.
ISO 9001 and Quality Management
ISO 9001 is the world’s leading quality management standard. Unlike ISO 17100 and ISO 18587, which focus specifically on translation services, ISO 9001 applies to overall business management processes.
Its objective is to help companies improve efficiency, reduce risks, monitor customer satisfaction and ensure continuous improvement across all operations.
Main Principles of ISO 9001
- Customer focus
- Continuous improvement
- Process-based management
- Risk prevention
- Data-driven decision-making
The standard also requires companies to document procedures clearly, identify risks and opportunities, perform internal audits and implement corrective actions whenever necessary.
How Okodia Ensures Continuous Improvement
Okodia uses an internal CRM and management system that documents workflows, responsibilities, client preferences and quality procedures. All sensitive information is handled securely to guarantee confidentiality.
Our quality system also includes:
- Incident management procedures
- Internal training materials
- Workflow optimisation guidelines
- Continuous team training
- Corrective and preventive action plans
- Customer feedback monitoring
Whenever challenges or incidents arise during a project, they are documented and analysed internally so the entire team can learn from them and improve future processes.
Why ISO-Certified Translation Services Matter
Working with an ISO-certified translation company means choosing a provider that follows internationally recognised quality procedures at every stage of the translation process.
At Okodia, ISO 17100, ISO 18587 and ISO 9001 certifications reflect our long-term commitment to quality, continuous improvement and professional translation services. These standards help us deliver accurate, reliable and secure translations tailored to each client’s needs.
FAQ About ISO Standards
What are ISO standards?
According to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), ISO standards are internationally agreed guidelines designed to ensure quality, safety and efficiency across different industries.
Are UNE and ISO the same thing?
No. UNE standards are Spanish standards, while ISO standards are issued by the International Organization for Standardization, meaning that the former have national scope and the latter international scope.
What is ISO 17100 used for?
ISO 17100 establishes the requirements and processes that certified translation companies must follow to provide professional translation services.
What is ISO 18587 used for?
ISO 18587 defines best practices for machine translation post-editing services involving human linguistic revision.
What is ISO 9001 used for?
ISO 9001 establishes the requirements for implementing an effective quality management system focused on continuous improvement and customer satisfaction.
Why are ISO-certified translation services important?
ISO-certified translation services provide additional guarantees regarding quality, consistency, security and professional workflows throughout the translation process.
