Intertask Conferences has been Canada’s leading provider of conference, exhibition, and special event services since 1973. A Professional Congress Organiser (PCO) consultant company that offers full PCO services, from budget development to program support, scientific abstract management, to exhibit and sponsorship sales and fulfilment. There is no PCO task that Intertask has not undertaken at one point in time.
Overview
Experienced with providing simultaneous interpretation at in-person events, in March 2020, as the world woke up to the new reality, Intertask too needed to pivot and move to manage fully virtual multi-lingual events. This led Intertask to research and demo over 40 virtual conference platforms, determining that very few offered integrated interpretation services – until they discovered Interprefy.
The Challenge
Finding fully remote, managed interpretation services
The virtual event would be delivered over 5 days, have 90 sessions, cross multiple time zones, and had to be simultaneously in English, French and Spanish requiring upwards of 30 interpreters per day. Intertask found it challenging to find a company that could not only supply this number of people but also offered fully managed services.
The Approach
Working with the leading RSI platform recommended by virtual conference platforms
Through their testing and demo process, Interprefy was consistently recommended to Intertask by the virtual event platforms. From sourcing interpreters, integration testing and live-day technical support, Interprefy was the natural fit.
The more we interacted with the Interprefy (..) leading up to the live date, the more confident we became, and we knew it was going to work.
"Initially we were a bit nervous because Interprefy is an international company with no offices in Canada – and we didn’t know anyone who had actually worked with them. But the more we interacted with the Interprefy project management team leading up to the live date, the more confident we became, and we knew it was going to work " says Leeanne Akehurst, Director with Intertask Conferences.
Our team worked closely with Intertask to source interpreters, test the platform, support interpreters remotely during the events, and record the events.
Interprefy made it seamless, and removed a lot of stress.
"Interprefy was able to source the number of interpreters we required. If we had managed this ourselves, we would have to have used multiple suppliers. They were responsible for finding and scheduling the interpreters, making sure they showed up and find replacements if necessary. Interprefy made it seamless and removed a lot of stress. We received unsolicited comments on the quality and accuracy of the interpretation in all languages, so it was great," said Leeanne.
The Outcome
Intertask not only found a trusted international partner who can support them in doing the heavy lifting for all their remote interpretation needs but is now also using RSI for their hybrid events.
Our experience with Interprefy was excellent. I would highly recommend them.
"If you have a multi-day conference and require interpretation for concurrent sessions, by the time you add in the costs of additional AV equipment and on-site interpreters, I think it would be equal to or a little bit less expensive to use Interprefy" Leeanne concludes.
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