Kern Global Language Services

What Kern Global Language Services does

KERN Global Language Services (legal entity KERN AG, Sprachendienste) is a Frankfurt-based, family-owned language service provider founded in 1972, operating across 60 locations in Europe, North America, and Asia through subsidiaries including KERN Corporation (USA), KERN SARL (France), and KERN Polska Sp. z o.o. (Poland). The company serves more than 30,000 customers — from startups to DAX-listed corporations — across 130+ industries and 510+ language combinations, translating more than 750 million words annually through a curated network of 8,900+ language experts.

The company monetizes through professional services (translation priced per line, interpreting at hourly rates with 30% overtime surcharges, post-editing, terminology management, multimedia localization, DTP and printing, training) and through a suite of proprietary "4client™" technology products. Core technology includes MT4client™ (hybrid AI machine translation combining rule-based, statistical, and neural approaches), portal4client™ (encrypted project management platform with translation memory), RSI VoiceApp™ (EU-based remote simultaneous interpreting), chatbot4client™ (multilingual chatbots in up to 50 languages), PDM4client™, (p)review4client™, API4client™, webshop4client™, cloud4client™, and term4client™. These integrate with third-party CAT/CMS platforms (MemoQ, Across, Transit, SDL Trados, SAP Translation Hub, SCHEMA ST4).

KERN distributes primarily via direct enterprise field sales across its 60 offices, complemented by self-serve portal/API access for mid-market and a consumer sub-brand (Clicktranslate) for personal-use translations. The company is differentiated by a comprehensive certification stack — ISO 17100, ISO 9001:2015, ISO 27001:2022, DIN ISO 18587, HIPAA, and TISAX — that qualifies it for regulated-industry workloads in healthcare, automotive, defense, and finance. Leadership rests with three Kern-family executive board members (Manfred Kern, Michael Kern, Dr. Thomas Kern), and the company has no disclosed parent, external investors, or acquisition activity in the input data.

Name

Kern Global Language Services

Legal name

KERN AG, Sprachendienste

Website

https://e-kern.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

KERN Global Language Services is a family-owned Frankfurt-based language service provider founded in 1972, serving 30,000+ customers across 130+ industries and 510+ language combinations through 60 global offices, 8,900+ language experts, and a proprietary suite of AI-assisted translation, interpreting, and portal products.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Language Services / Professional Translation and Interpreting

NAICS

Translation and Interpretation Services (54193), Software Publishers (51321)

SIC

Services-Business Services, Nec (7389)

akta.pro primary industry

Translation & Transcreation Services (Script/Dialogue Adaptation) (MPAHAFAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Machine Translation & Multilingual NLP (HDAAADAD), Content Localization, Translation & Transcreation (BPAFAIAH), Speech Translation & Multilingual Speech Tech (HDAAAFAE), Multilingual/Translation Communication Apps (BPAMACAJ), Localization & Culturalization Services (Translation, LQA, VO/Subtitle) (MPAFAKAB)

Keywords

• Professional translation services
• Interpreting services
• Machine translation solutions
• Multilingual localization
• Language service provider

Headquarters

HQ city

Frankfurt

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Professional Translation Services: Core translation services including certified translations, website translation, legal translations, technical translations, medical translations, financial documentation, localization, and post-editing. Priced per translation line (up to 50 characters including spaces).
2. Interpreting Services: Professional interpreting including simultaneous and consecutive interpreting, online interpreting (VRI and RSI), and on-site interpreting with event equipment. Compensation includes travel time, interpreter presence, and hourly rates with surcharges for overtime.
3. Machine Translation & AI Solutions: AI-powered machine translation solutions (MT4client™) and post-editing services. Combines machine pre-translation with professional post-editing for scalable workflows.
4. DTP & Printing: Desktop publishing, layout adaptation, and print production for multilingual catalogs and brochures. Includes formatting, conversion work, and printing services.
5. Terminology Management: Terminology extraction and management services including creation and expansion of glossaries and terminology databases for consistent brand communication.
6. Training Services: Business training and language courses including specialist training for international teams, intercultural competence development, and language courses. Charged per course unit.
7. Multimedia Localization: Transcription, voice-over, and subtitling services for multilingual localization of videos, corporate films, and interactive formats.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

KERN Global Language Services is an internationally active language service provider offering professional translation, certified translation, interpreting, and localization services across 510+ language combinations and 130+ industries. The company combines a network of more than 8,900 in-house and freelance language experts with proprietary AI-assisted platforms (MT4client™ hybrid machine translation, portal4client™ management portal, RSI VoiceApp™ remote interpreting) to deliver translation, interpreting, DTP, multimedia localization, terminology management, and language training to enterprise clients worldwide.

Product overview

KERN Global Language Services is a comprehensive language services provider offering a portfolio of technology products and professional services. The core technology stack includes MT4client™ (AI-powered machine translation using hybrid rule-based, statistical, and neural technology), portal4client™ (central translation management platform), and RSI VoiceApp™ (AI-powered remote simultaneous interpreting). Additional modules include chatbot4client™ (multilingual chatbots), PDM4client™ (product data management), (p)review4client™ (online review editor), term4client™ (terminology management), API4client™ (process automation), webshop4client™ (e-commerce integration), and cloud4client™ (secure file exchange). Professional services span translation (certified, technical, medical, legal, financial, SAP, website), interpreting (simultaneous, consecutive, RSI, VRI), DTP & printing, multimedia localization, transcription/voice-over/subtitling, terminology management, proofreading, transcreation, content creation, training, and supplier management. The company operates across 60+ locations with a network of 8,900+ language experts, serving 30,000+ customers in 130+ industries worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• portal4client™: Customer portal for efficient translation management and process automation
• MT4client™
• RSI VoiceApp™
• PDM4client™
• (p)review4client™
• API4client™
• webshop4client™
• cloud4client™
• chatbot4client™
• Term4client™
• KERN Training
• KERN TecDoc
• Clicktranslate
• Review Manager

Products and services

• MT4client™

Quantifiable outcome

• 750+ million words translated per year
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments10 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

AI capability8 records

Feature10 records

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• DeepL: DeepL is a German-based neural machine translation provider that competes with KERN's MT4client™ offering and increasingly pressures translation pricing across the industry. It is a partial competitor in MT but not a full-service LSP.

Direct peers

• LanguageLine Solutions: LanguageLine is a global leader in interpreting (over-the-phone, video, in-person) and translation services, PE-backed and far larger than KERN. It is a direct peer on interpreting services and shares enterprise/government customer profiles.
• TransPerfect: TransPerfect is one of the largest privately held LSPs globally, offering translation, interpreting, and localization services across virtually all industries. It competes head-to-head with KERN for enterprise translation RFPs and shares the family-owned / privately held business model with full vertical coverage.
• RWS Group: RWS is a top-tier global language services and IP services company headquartered in the UK. It directly competes with KERN across translation, interpreting, MT, and localization for enterprise clients in regulated industries. KERN's top-30 global LSP ranking places it in the same competitive tier as RWS.
• Lionbridge (now part of Hitachi through Welocalize/CLS era): Lionbridge is a long-established global LSP with deep enterprise translation, interpreting, and AI data services. It is a direct peer to KERN in serving DAX/Fortune 500 multilingual content needs and competes on hybrid MT + human workflows.
• Welocalize: Welocalize is a top-10 global LSP offering translation, interpreting, and AI-enabled localization services. It is a direct competitor to KERN across enterprise localization, particularly for tech and life sciences clients.
• SDL (now RWS Language Solutions, post-divestiture): SDL's translation technology and services business (now part of RWS) historically competed directly with KERN in translation memory, MT, and enterprise localization workflows. Comparable in serving technical and regulated content customers.

Others

• Across Systems: Across Systems is a translation management software vendor whose tools (including the Across Language Server used by KERN) compete with KERN's proprietary portal4client™ and broader language technology stack. It is a technology ecosystem peer rather than a direct service competitor.

Regional players

• Planet Languages (Planet Group): Planet Languages is a European LSP with a similar mid-tier global profile and DACH-region footprint, competing with KERN in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland for translation and interpreting services.
• Semantix: Semantix is a leading Nordic LSP headquartered in Sweden with strong presence in Northern Europe. It is a direct competitor to KERN in Northern European enterprise translation and language technology, though its geographic focus differs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/KernLanguageServices
• Facebookfacebook.com/KernAG
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kern-global-language-services
• Instagraminstagram.com/kern_ag
• Xx.com/kern_ag

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kern Global Language Services