Terminology Management in Practice
Terminology management is much more than a linguistic discipline. In practice, it means one thing above all: more efficient processes, fewer misunderstandings, and higher quality in communication and translation. But how can the step from theory to implementation in everyday work succeed? The key lies in pragmatic procedures, lean structures, and a shared commitment across departments. When terminology is viewed not as a side project but as a strategic resource, it strengthens every area from product development to customer service.
Why a systematic approach is essential
Many companies harbor inconsistent terms, inconsistent translations, and untapped knowledge. Terminology work helps to close these gaps. It creates structure, promotes understanding, and improves content reuse — whether in editorial processes, software localization, or technical documentation.
Typical challenges when starting out
- Unclear responsibilities: Who is in charge?
- Resistance from teams: Departments stick to familiar terms
- Scattered data sources: Terms exist in Excel, tools, and people’s heads
- Lack of tools: Maintenance, review, and approval are unstructured
Success factors for practical implementation
- Start with a pilot project: For example, in product management or documentation
- Clarify responsibilities: Terminology needs clear roles and processes
- Involve departments: Acceptance comes through participation
- Use technical support: Tools like flashterm help with structure, maintenance, and distribution
- Communicate added value: Show how terminology supports daily work and reduces ambiguity
flashterm – your tool for professional implementation
With flashterm, getting started with terminology management doesn't require a large project. The software provides a smart data model with preferred terms, synonyms, definitions, context fields, and more. Its intuitive interface, multilingual support, and browser-based availability make flashterm ideal for documentation, translation, and development teams.
- Role-based permissions for different users
- Export formats like TBX, CSV, and JSON
- Integration with existing tools (CMS, TMS, editorial systems)
- Fast implementation without IT effort
Case study: implementation at a mid-sized company
An international mechanical engineering company with over 500 employees introduced flashterm to unify communication between documentation, development, and translation teams. Starting with a three-month pilot in product documentation, they achieved faster term maintenance, targeted assignments, and accurate translations — with fewer questions and 25% faster time-to-publish.
Long-term benefits of structured terminology
A consistent terminology system pays off in the long run: It reduces translation efforts, improves internal communication, speeds up onboarding, and enhances technical documentation quality. Especially with frequent product updates or multilingual versions, a well-defined vocabulary offers guidance.
flashterm supports the ongoing maintenance of your terminology. With change tracking, version management, and role distribution, everyone stays informed. Your terminology database remains up to date, traceable, and usable across the organization — even as scope and complexity grow.
Conclusion
Terminology management works — if approached practically and implemented efficiently. The key is clear responsibilities, the right software, and openness to change. When supported by a user-friendly solution like flashterm, terminology becomes an everyday tool — not a barrier. Start small, think long-term, and let your terminology work grow with your organization.
Field Notes
"We had spreadsheets, tools, and informal chats — but no single source of truth. Now we do."
"Documentation, translation, and development finally speak the same language."
"We've cut time-to-publish by 25% — with better consistency."
"Finding terms instead of asking saves us time every day."
Request a free live demo or talk to us about a pilot project in your company.