Idioma

What Idioma does

Idioma is a privately-held translation and localization services company founded in 1980, operating across three international offices in Prague (headquarters, as idioma s.r.o.), Tokyo (idioma Co., Ltd.), and Gothenburg. The company delivers professional translation services across 70+ languages and 5,000+ language combinations via a network of 2,000+ native translators and a stated daily capacity exceeding 150,000 words. Idioma maintains three ISO certifications (9001:2016 quality management, 17100:2015 translation service quality, and 18587:2017 machine translation post-editing) and is ranked among the Top 5 Japanese Language Service Providers by CSA Research.

The company's technology stack centers on iQube, a proprietary cloud-based translation platform developed in-house, which integrates with the CrossCheck QA tool featuring world-first machine-translated content detection via morphology-based algorithms. The product portfolio includes the Stream online ordering portal, NextDoc translation reuse service, idiomaNMT (custom-trained neural machine translation isolated from public MT engines), StreamAPI for CMS integration, iGlossary terminology management, and iSync bilingual file creation. NMT combined with professional post-editing (MTPE) is offered at a 30% discount versus standard translation across 13 European languages.

Idioma employs 33 full-time staff globally (6 in Japan, 27 overseas), supplemented by its freelance translator network, and operates a hybrid go-to-market model combining direct enterprise sales with dedicated project managers alongside self-service Stream portal ordering available 24/7. The company serves primary verticals in technical/industrial manufacturing, life sciences, and electronics, with secondary segments in legal/finance and advertising/marketing. The company is privately held with no disclosed external investors, suggesting organic growth funded through reinvested earnings over its four-decade history.

Name

Idioma

Legal name

idioma Co., Ltd.

Website

https://idioma.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Idioma is a privately-held translation and localization services company founded in 1980, operating from Prague, Tokyo, and Gothenburg. It serves technical, life sciences, and electronics clients across 70+ languages using proprietary iQube platform, CrossCheck QA tooling, and a 2,000+ native translator network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Translation and Localization Services

NAICS

Translation and Interpretation Services (541930), Custom Computer Programming Services (541511)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Machine Translation & Multilingual NLP (HDAAADAD)

Keywords

• Professional translation services
• Language localization
• Machine translation post-editing
• Technical translation
• Translation quality assurance

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Translation Services: Professional translation services across 70+ languages with native translator network of 2,000+. Services include standard translation, team translation for large projects, and emergency translation.
2. NMT + PE (Machine Translation Post-Editing): Neural machine translation combined with professional post-editing by native translators. 30% discount compared to standard translation. Available for 12+ European languages from English.
3. Translation API (StreamAPI): API-based translation services integrated into customer CMS. Enables translation ordering and delivery workflow within customer systems.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Idioma is a total translation service provider offering professional human translation across 70+ languages and 5,000+ language combinations, supplemented by machine translation post-editing (NMT + PE), proprietary QA tooling (CrossCheck®), and a cloud-based translation platform (iQube). Services are delivered to enterprise clients in technical/industrial, life sciences, legal & finance, and marketing verticals via a self-service portal (Stream) and dedicated project managers. The company operates a 2,000+ native translator network and processes 150,000+ words daily in compliance with ISO 9001, 17100, and 18587 standards.

Product overview

Idioma is a total translation service provider founded in 1980, offering a platform-plus-modules architecture centered on the proprietary cloud-based iQube translation platform. The core portfolio includes Stream (online ordering and project management), NextDoc (translation reuse without traditional TM), Ask! (free translation Q&A), iSync (bilingual file creation), CrossCheck® (bilingual QA tool with world-first MT detection), iGlossary (terminology management), idiomaNMT (private neural MT), NMT + PE (MT with full post-editing), and StreamAPI (translation API). Services are available across 70+ languages and 60+ file formats, supported by a network of 2,000+ native translators.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• idiomaNMT: Neural machine translation service providing custom-trained NMT solutions
• CrossCheck®
• iQube
• Stream
• StreamAPI
• NextDoc
• iSync
• iGlossary
• Ask!

Products and services

• Stream Online translation ordering service enabling clients to upload files, select languages, get instant estimates, and place orders 24/7. Offers standard ISO 17100-compliant translation, team translation for large projects, and emergency translation with no minimum charge.
• NMT + PE (Machine Translation + Post-Editing) Neural machine translation with full post-editing service. Uses existing translation memories for custom NMT training, ensuring higher quality and domain-specific terminology. Includes mandatory CrossCheck QA and is ISO 18587 certified.
• Translation Services Full-service translation across industries (technical/consumer products, transport, machinery, robotics, legal & finance, life sciences) and 70+ languages, with project management, ISO-certified processes, and optional NMT+PE workflow.
• CrossCheck® Bilingual file QA service and online tool that detects errors in translation files including unedited machine-translated content, terminology inconsistencies, number mismatches, missing translations, and punctuation errors. Performs 70+ check items. Also available as CrossCheck API and as a Trados Studio plugin.
• iQube Proprietary cloud-based translation platform that serves as the operational hub for all translators, language reviewers, and QA staff. Fully integrated with CrossCheck QA software. Handles data security, terminology management, style guides, translation memory, and team collaboration.
• StreamAPI Translation API service allowing direct integration with users' CMS for ordering translations, managing delivery, and proofing in 70+ languages. Includes translation memory, glossary, and final proofing features.
• idiomaNMT Proprietary neural machine translation service using customer-specific NMT custom-trained on existing translation memories. Data is fully separated from public MT systems. Offered with full post-editing service.
• NextDoc Translation reuse service that compares old and new document versions to identify previously translated content without requiring traditional translation memory or CMS databases. Delivers either the translated new document or bilingual files from the old version.
• iSync Bilingual file creation service using native translator alignment to create translation-ready bilingual files from source and target documents. Supports 30+ file formats for use in CAT tools.
• iGlossary Terminology management service that extracts key terms from past documents, has native translators confirm accuracy, and produces structured glossaries to ensure consistency across translations.
• Ask! Free Q&A service where clients submit translation questions via a dedicated form and receive answers from professional native translators. Supports over 70 languages.

Quantifiable outcome

• 30% cost reduction with MTPE compared to standard translation
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability4 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• GALA (Globalization and Localization Association)coreOthersGALA is a nonprofit global association dedicated to promoting the translation and localization industry. idioma is a member, and their CrossCheck® service was featured in GALA's News Room.
• ELIA (European Language Industry Association)coreOthersELIA is a European association for language service providers. idioma is a member.
• ATA (American Translators Association)coreOthersATA is a professional association for translators and interpreters in the United States. idioma is a member.
• ATC (Association of Translation Companies)coreOthersATC is a UK-based association for translation companies. idioma is a member.
• JTF (Japan Translation Federation)coreOthersJTF is Japan's premier translation industry association. idioma is a member.
• tekomminorOtherstekom is a German professional association for technical communication. idioma is a member.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Lionbridge: One of the world's largest language service providers offering translation, localization, and AI data services across 350+ languages. Directly comparable as a full-service LSP with proprietary technology and enterprise focus.
• TransPerfect: Privately held global LSP offering translation, interpretation, and localization across virtually every industry vertical. Comparable as a full-service enterprise LSP competing in the same customer RFPs.
• RWS Holdings: Publicly listed UK-based language services and IP services company (parent of SDL). Directly comparable on translation services, proprietary MT (Language Weaver), and enterprise language technology offerings.
• Welocalize: Mid-to-large global LSP operating across translation, localization, and AI services with proprietary technology platforms. Closely matches Idioma's enterprise focus and platform-plus-services model.
• LanguageWire: European LSP headquartered in Denmark with strong Nordic and European footprint and a proprietary translation platform. Comparable in scale and platform-led approach to enterprise translation.

Regional players

• Honyaku Center: Japanese language service provider focused on translation, interpretation, and localization for the domestic Japanese market. Comparable as a Japanese LSP competitor for the same Top-5-tier Japanese customers.
• ToWord Co., Ltd. Japanese LSP specializing in technical and patent translation, headquartered in Japan. Comparable as a domestic Japanese translation competitor targeting similar enterprise and technical customers.

Emerging players

• Smartling: Cloud-based translation management platform serving enterprise digital content localization. Comparable on the technology/platform side of Idioma's business, particularly StreamAPI and iQube.
• Lokalise: Cloud-based localization platform for software, apps, and digital content with TMS, MT integration, and developer APIs. Comparable as a tech-forward LSP-adjacent platform targeting enterprise localization workflows.

Broad incumbents

• DeepL: Commercial neural machine translation provider offering high-quality MT and translation APIs. Comparable as a competitor on the MT engine side of Idioma's business and as a disruptor of human-led translation.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/idiomaworld
• Facebookfacebook.com/idiomaworld
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/idiomaworld

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Idioma