Siemens AG: multi-language knowledge management

A truly global production company, Siemens AG employs 430,000 people in 190 countries. This international presence implies a large number of employees work in languages other than their native tongue. English, thanks to Siemens’ localisation mechanisms and training programs, has become its unifying corporate language. When it comes to communication, finnlabs supports Siemens in the field of e-learning. Our engagement at Siemens signifies the development of a major training initiative: user-centric translation services. We reduce language barriers encountered by trainees, thus increasing quality, user acceptance, and learning effect.

Our collaboration had two major components. First, finnlabs re-designed Siemens’ deployed glossary mechanism. This tool plays a key role in their corporate knowledge management and training programs. It centrally maintains uniform definitions and concepts used in subsidiaries across the globe. One can easily access these terms through a web service such as the Siemens intranet and can embed them in a multitude of training manuals and other educational material. finnlabs combined all aspects of glossary content management into one intuitive web interface. Editors do not need to possess technical skills to roll-out changes, which are deployed in real time. Definitions do not have to be hard-coded into training content, which drastically reduces development and maintenance costs. Multiple roles and a clear access concept allow for content design and maintenance in varying steps.

The second challenge of our project was to reduce language-based friction in the training process. The most direct approach would have been prohibitively expensive and out of reach: to translate all documents into every language used within Siemens. finnlabs’ response provides technology-driven language solutions which enable employees to work confidently with material in English or German, without being native speakers in either tongue. We provide high quality translations of training content in the user’s native language. Beside company and industry-specific vocabulary, we integrate extensive general dictionaries, ensuring users receive support for basic requests. Employees do not have to leave the training environment for assistance.