How It Works
Answers to most common questions on how it works.
ablio is a global marketplace platform that provides live-interpreting services anywhere in the world at anytime. Whether online or offline, on the go, or at the office, ablio provides interpreters that can translate in real-time from any language into any language for corporations, small businesses, and consumers alike.
Services are rendered through the ablio platform, which automates all operational aspects. Once you select the two languages needed, an interpreter is identified based on the specific requirements and a connection is established between you, the interpreter and your counterparts. At the end of the call, you get billed and the service activity gets logged on your dashboard for easy tracking.
Sign up to obtain your personal account. There are no costs, setup fees, monthly fees or minimum commitments. The information provided during your registration will be used for the sole purpose of responding to your service requests. Please read our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy for more information.
Once registered, you have access to your own personal dashboard, where you can manage your settings, your service requests and all other available functionalities. Our service platform behaves according to your specific account settings, therefore take your time to explore its features, complete it with your preferences and keep it continuously updated.
Ablio provides a combination of different service options for your service requests.
Language pair: the language pair you need interpreting.
On demand/booked service: you can request a service now (on demand service) or book it at a later time (booked service). If you choose a booked service, after having selected the time of the booking, we will check the availability of a suitable interpreter: once one has been identified we will send you a confirmation message and the booking will be displayed in your dashboard. You will be called by the interpreter at the time that you have selected.
Service level: you can choose between three levels of service: standard, business, and expert. All services are rendered by qualified and specifically assigned interpreters in what is called “liaison interpreting mode”, where interpreters orally translates short utterances between the parties in bi-directional mode while speakers pause to allow interpretation. Standard service is for colloquial, informal conversations, where the interpreter has the possibility to influence the pace of the conversation and adjust their interpretation, respecting the tone and content of the conversation. Business service is for business or professional conversations, where the interpreter will not only maintain as much as possible the pace and tone of the conversation, but also strictly respect the terminology used and the rendering of concepts in the conversation. Expert service is for conversations with competence in industry specific terminology and formalism.
Connecting third parties: If you want to reach third parties that need to be connected to the call, you can enter the telephone numbers of up to five counterparts. We’ll do the outbound calls to incorporate them into the call once you are connected with the interpreter.
Making the call – you have three choices for making the call:
- use your computer: using your computer’s microphone and speakers (headset recommended)
- use your telephone: call the phone number displayed, or use the ablioTEL functions
- we call you: we’ll call you at your phone number
Once connected to the interpreter, you can brief the interpreter about the nature of the call, so that they can serve you better. When you are ready to proceed, ask the interpreter to bring your counterparts into the call, if any.
To end the session hang up if you are using the phone, or click “End call” if using your computer.
If you are on travel, with poor or no access to Internet, you can request a service directly from your telephone by using ablioTEL functionalities: simply dial the local ablio’s telephone number and get connected to your requested interpreter. You can use the speakerphone option of your telephone, avoiding the need of passing the handset to each other, or you can add to your device a headphone dual adapter to connect another pair of earplugs for your counterpart.
If you intend to have face-to-face conversations frequently in your office settings, the optimal solution is to use a dual handset phone for you and your counterpart to connect to the interpreter: such devices are cheaply priced and commonly available in any consumer electronics shop.
If you have to talk with remote counterparts, ablio will make the outbound calls to their phone numbers and include them in your call once you are connected with the interpreter. Use your service dashboard to configure the most appropriate options for your needs.
Ablio lets you connect with up to five counterparts’ telephones, but you can also use our interpreting services by including them within any other third-parties audio or video conference services of your choice, such as Go-to-meeting, Vidyo, Zoom or any other one.
To do so, once you have booked your conference on your chosen platform, make a booking session request within your Ablio dashboard: when asked by the system (step 6 of the booking session request process) enter the proper conference telephone number AND related access codes. The interpreter will join in the conference at the time that you have selected, in audio-only mode.
Since all participants’ voices are mixed within a single audio stream, please run the session allowing the interpreter to operate in the previously described “liaison interpreting mode” (“simultaneous interpreting mode” will be made available through another new specific functionality, still under development and due to be released by the end of the year).
The HelpDesk button at the bottom right of each page of our website is the most effective way to get in contact with our team for any kind of request. Our dedicated staff is available to ensure you with the best quality and user experience.
Our services are charged on a per-minute basis. Prices are clearly indicated when you request service via your dashboard and are billed directly to your credit card. At the end of the session you will be billed for the number of minutes used and a record of the session details will be shown within the Billings page of your dashboard. Charges begin when the interpreter is on the line with you, and ends when you hang up. A consolidated invoice of all your service requests will be available in your dashboard at the end of each month.
Please configure your credit card details in your settings, otherwise our services will not be available to you. Contact us through the HelpDesk button if you prefer to negotiate alternative ways of payment.
At the end of each service session you’ll be asked to kindly provide your feedback on the service you have received and to rate your interpreter. We’d appreciate your comments and feedback as they play a crucial role in our continuous improvement methodology.
By doing so you also have the possibility to include the interpreter in your Preferred Interpreters list and your further service requests will be assigned to them, if available at that moment.
The Corporate profile provides you with an additional dashboard that enables you to create, assign, manage and monitor multiple sub-accounts, all associated to a single corporate account.
It is available free of charge as additional option: you can upgrade your profile to Corporate by sending us a request through the HelpDesk button. Your Corporate profile and dashboard will be activated within the next working day.
Your interpreted sessions are recorded for your convenience. They are stored in our secured servers for 30 days before being eliminated: during such time, from your Billings page you can re-listen to them and eventually save them on your own computer. Your recorded sessions, like all the rest of your personal information, is obviously protected in accordance to our Privacy and Code of Ethics.
Ablio uses VoIP technologies to handle the telecommunications between you, the interpreter and your parties, relying upon dedicated and robust infrastructures in order to provide you with best quality and user experience.
If you use the “use your computer” function for making the call, ensure that your browser allows the use of your microphone. Also, such function is not supported by tablets and smartphones.
In ablioTEL or “use your phone” function, if the input that you digit is not properly recognized by our system it means that your telephone has troubles sending correct DTMF digits since uses compressed audio protocols that interfere with its transmission. Consult your phone’s documentation on DTMF problems.
Quick step-by-step guide on how to make your service requests.
On-demand service request
At your login, your dashboard shows the page for making a new Service request.
STEP 1 & 2 – Language Pair – When
- Language pair – Select the language combination required for your interpreter.
- When – Select the On-demand service option in order to make an immediate call.
- (if such option is in gray color and cannot be selected, it means that no interpreters are available to respond to your request in that moment).
- Enter the expected duration time of your call (it just helps us to identify and assign the proper interpreter to your request).
- Click the NEXT STEP button to proceed.
STEP 3 – Your parties
- Select My party is with me, if you have a face-to-face meeting with your party (or if you are already connected with him/her on another phone line, or the interpreter has to connect to an external web-conference)
- or
- select I need to connect to my party through telephone, if you want that Ablio includes your remote parties into the call, then enter their telephone numbers in the related dialogue box.
- Click the NEXT STEP button to proceed.
STEP 4 – Service level
- Select the level of expertise of the interpreter you require.
- Click the NEXT STEP button to proceed.
STEP 5 – Searching for an Interpreter…
- Ablio is now searching for the appropriate interpreter for your request.
STEP 6 – Choose how you want to connect
The interpreter has been identified and is already waiting to be connected to you. Choose how you want to be connected to the call by clicking the appropriate button:
- Use your computer – if you want to be connected through your same computer device (equipped with headsets or microphone and speakers).
- We call you – Ablio calls you now to your telephone number. You will be connected to the interpreter by your phone.
- Use your phone – You have to dial the Ablio phone number that is shown in the dialogue box and are immediately connected to the interpreter.
- Connect to web conference – you are asked to enter the telephone number of the web conference where the interpreter will be connected (enter its related conference PIN number too!)
- You are immediately connected to the interpreter in the modality that you have chosen: your remote parties, if any, will be included in the conversation by the interpreter upon your request.
Booked service request
At your login, your dashboard shows the page for making a new Service request.
STEP 1 & 2 – Language Pair – When
- Language pair – Select the language combination required for your interpreter.
- When – Select the Booked service option in order to book a service call at a later time.
- Enter the expected duration time of your call (it just helps us to identify and assign the proper interpreter to your request).
- Click the NEXT STEP button to proceed.
STEP 3 – Your parties
- Select My party is with me, if you plan to have a face-to-face meeting with your party (or if you will be already connected with him/her on another phone line, or the interpreter has to connect to an external web-conference).
- or
- select I need to connect to my party through telephone, if you want that Ablio includes your remote parties into the call, then enter their telephone numbers in the related dialogue box.
- Click the NEXT STEP button to proceed.
STEP 4 – Service level
- Select the level of expertise of the interpreter you require.
- Click the NEXT STEP button to proceed.
STEP 5 – Date and time
- Enter the date and time that you want to book the call (the minimum ahead time of a booking is one hour).
- Click the NEXT STEP button to proceed.
STEP 6 – Your telephone number
- Enter/confirm the telephone number where you will be called by the interpreter at your booked time.
- Click the CONFIRM BOOKING button to proceed.
STEP 7 – Interpreter assignment
- As soon as your booked service request is assigned to an appropriate interpreter, you will be notified by email of its confirmation.
- At the date and time of your booking you will be called by the interpreter at your phone: your remote parties, if any, will be included in the conversation by the interpreter upon your request.
Telephone-only service request (ablioTEL)
You can make a service request by your telephone.
Prior to the call (settings)
- Properly configure your preferences in the ablioTEL page of your dashboard (you can do it once and modify if needed).
- Have at hand your personal PIN and DPS codes, the ablioTEL national phone number and eventually the language code list, all available in your ablioTEL page.
To make the service request
- Dial your chosen ablioTEL telephone number
- if and when prompted, digit your PIN and DPS code numbers, so that you can be identified by the system
- the automated voice response asks you to confirm, or enter, your requested language combination
- ablioTEL connects you to the requested interpreter.
Skype service request
You can have the interpreter included into your Skype conference call
Prior to the call (settings)
- Properly configure your preferences in the ablioTEL page of your dashboard (you can do it once and modify if needed).
- Have at hand your personal PIN and DPS codes and eventually the language code list, all available in your ablioTEL page.
To make the service request
- Open your Skype account and search for ablioTEL within the Skype network: once identified it, add it to your Contacts list
- from your Skype account, create a Skype call and include the ablioTEL account in the call
- digit your PIN and DPS code numbers, when prompted by the automated voice response, so that you can be identified by the system
- the automated voice response asks you to confirm, or enter, your requested language combination
- the interpreter is included into your Skype call through the ablioTEL Skype account.
Ablio’s telephone interpreting services are the most effective and convenient solution for handling conversations between people who do not share the same language, where translation is performed by interpreters in consecutive mode.
If you need a simultaneous interpreting service, where audiences listen to the simultaneous translation on dedicated audio channels, please use our Ablioconference tools and solutions, available at the website ablioconference.com.