Every year, CSA Research (formerly known as Common Sense Advisory) releases a list of the Top 100 Language Service Providers in the U.S. We feel very lucky to be included as a top interpretation company on this list. But there are several others alongside us that you should know — especially if you’re on the hunt for the perfect language service provider (LSP).
One thing about the language industry: It’s huge. Huge. Our CEO likes to say that we’re the “biggest little industry nobody’s ever heard of.” It encompasses much more than remote interpretation, too, like translation, localization, and transcription.
So while there are plenty of heavy hitters in the U.S. language services industry (hi, Lionbridge and TransPerfect), we’ll be focusing on the top companies that primarily provide remote interpreting services, like video and telephone interpretation.
Let’s take a closer look.
Related: Just getting started ? Have questions? Connect with us here…
Certified Languages International
It might seem self-serving to list ourselves, but we are the 3rd largest US remote interpreting service.
Established: 1994
CEO/Owner: Kristin Quinlan. CLI is also a Certified Women Owned Business
Primary Industries: Healthcare, Social Services, Government (State and Federal), Call Centers, Financial Services, Insurance.
Who We Are: CLI believes in serving our community. And we believe in building strong communities and healthy futures through language access.
Notable Stats:
- CLI offers over 230+ languages for phone interpretation
- CLI offers video remote interpreting as well as document translation
- CLI just celebrated it’s 25th anniversary
- The CLI team is over 60% female
Claim to Fame: CLI is know to be the highest-touch service in the industry with the most rigorous interpreter screenings.
LanguageLine Solutions
Established: 1982
Language services offered: Video and phone interpretation, on-site interpretation, translation, transcription, language and interpreting assessments, training
Primary industries served: Healthcare, government, enterprise, personal interpreter
Who they are: LanguageLine was was founded by Jeff Munks, a former police officer, and Michael McFerrin, a former U.S. marine. The pair formed the language company (then known as Communication and Language Line, or CALL) to provide support for the 65,000 Vietnamese refugees who immigrated to the U.S. following the Vietnam War.
Other notable statistics:
- LanguageLine offers 200+ languages for telephone interpretation
- They offer 40 languages for video remote interpretation
- In 2013, they acquired Pacific Interpreters; LanguageLine was acquired by call center giant Teleperformance in 2016
Related: Which Is Better for Healthcare: Video or Phone Interpreters?
CyraCom
Established: 1995
Language services offered: Video and phone interpretation, on-site interpretation, translation, transcription, language and interpreting assessments, training
Primary industries served: Healthcare
Who they are: Out of the largest interpretation services companies, CyraCom is unique in that they only service healthcare organizations. Voiance, a subsidiary of CyraCom, handles “over 100 sectors, including some of the largest municipal government, health plan, property and casualty (P&C) insurance, and banking organizations in the United States.”
While many interpreting companies use contract interpreters, CyraCom touts the use of large contact centers staffed with interpreters covering 200,000 square feet of space across the U.S.
Other notable statistics:
- According to CSA, CyraCom employs 2,396 full-time positions in 8 locations
- Their 2019 revenue was $156.70 million
- They have 3 ISO certifications in quality management system, community interpreting services, and translation services
Related: See How Easy It Is to Get a Telephone Interpreter
AMN Healthcare
Established: 1985
Language services offered: Video and telephone interpretation, on-site interpretation, translation
Primary industries served: Healthcare, government, 911 call centers, insurance, legal, refugee agencies
Who they are: AMN Healthcare mainly focuses on providing interpreter services to healthcare organizations, but they do serve other industries as well. They began as a travel nursing staffing company, but have since expanded to include a full spectrum of services. In early 2020, they acquired Stratus Video, which had previously merged with InDemand Interpreting, another sizable language company.
Other notable statistics:
- They offer support in over 200 audio languages
- They offer support in 35 video languages
- AMN has around 3,000 medical interpreters
- Over 175 health systems and 1,900 hospitals and clinics use AMN’s interpretation services
An industry of connection
These are just a few of the companies that provide world-class interpretation services. Each has its own strengths and value propositions.
The language services industry is distinct in its sense of comradery between many of the companies that might be considered direct competitors. That’s because, at the end of the day, we’re all committed to making sure anyone can quickly communicate with limited English proficient individuals.
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Learn more about CLI’s telephone interpreting services and video interpreting services.
