What Is a CAT Tool?
CAT tools (Computer-Assisted Translation tools) are essential in modern translation work. They’re not automatic translators like Google Translate – instead, they’re tools that help human translators work faster, more consistently, and with higher accuracy. In this article, we’ll explain how CAT tools work and why they’ve become indispensable in the translation industry.
How Does Computer-Aided Translation Work?
A CAT tool breaks the source text into segments – usually sentences or phrases – and stores them in a Translation Memory (TM). When a similar or identical segment appears later (even in a different document), the tool suggests a previous translation.
CAT tools also integrate terminology databases, glossaries, and QA features to support quality and consistency throughout the project.
Are CAT Tools Just Better Translators?
Not at all. There’s a big difference:
- Machine translation generates an entire translation automatically.
- CAT tools assist a human translator, who decides how to phrase each part.
So the CAT tool doesn’t replace the translator – it makes their work smarter and faster.
Key Benefits of CAT Tools
- Consistent terminology – Technical terms, legal phrases or product names are translated the same way across the entire document and even across multiple projects.
- Time and cost savings – Repeated segments are translated only once. For large documents, this means lower costs and faster delivery.
- Quality assurance – CAT tools highlight missing numbers, inconsistent terminology or potential errors.
- Efficient collaboration – They allow multiple translators to work on one project while maintaining a consistent style.
Who Benefits from CAT Tools?
Anyone who needs reliable translation – especially:
- Companies that translate manuals, contracts, websites or technical documentation,
- Translation agencies coordinating large or multilingual projects,
- Professional translators looking to improve workflow and quality.
How We Use CAT Tools
At our agency, CAT tools are a core part of daily work. We use custom-built translation memories, terminology databases and client-specific glossaries. The result? Lower costs, faster turnaround and higher consistency.
Smarter Translation Through Technology
CAT tools are more than just productivity boosters – they’re essential for translation quality, speed and accuracy. Whether you’re translating user manuals, legal agreements or marketing content, CAT tools help ensure a professional result every time.
⬢ Planning to translate a larger volume of documentation? Let’s talk – we’ll help you explore how CAT tools can improve efficiency and offer a cost-effective solution.
CAT tool computer-aided translation translation memory terminology database translation quality translation software