Blog Articles

Most sustainability conversations in the events industry start with venues, catering and offsetting. Travel is usually acknowledged and then set aside, because delegate and speaker travel is rarely up for debate: it is the reason onsite events happen. That instinct holds up. Business travel and accommodation typically account for 70 to 90 percent of an event's total emissions, and attendee travel is usually the single largest source within that figure. Across the industry as a whole, aggregated travel, energy, catering and logistics may account for up to 10 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions.

For enterprises, organisations and institutions, the real challenge of multilingual communication is not providing translation, but delivering language access in a way that is dependable, scalable and aligned with enterprise‑level expectations.

When Earth Day first took place in 1970, millions gathered in the U.S. to speak out against pollution and environmental damage. It was a turning point — a moment that proved that ordinary people, united by purpose, could influence real policy change.

Planning an event that runs smoothly is already a big job. Throw in multiple languages, hybrid attendance, and tight timelines, and it gets a lot trickier.

We get it. You want everyone at your event — whether they’re in the room or joining online — to feel included and able to follow along. But traditional interpretation setups aren’t designed for today’s formats. Many times they’re costly, complicated, and don’t always fit with your tools or timeline.

In 2014, a bold idea was born in Zurich that would forever change the interpretation and translation industry. Kim Ludvigsen, the visionary founder of Interprefy, was attending a conference when he noticed the outdated booths and equipment used for interpretation—technology that hadn’t seen much change since the 1960s. Inspired by the widespread use of smartphones and the internet, he posed a pivotal question that would spark a revolution: why couldn’t interpreters work remotely and attendees use their own devices to access event interpretations? This question marked the beginning of Remote Simultaneous Interpretation (RSI). 

Are communication barriers hindering the success of your business? If so, you’re not alone. Many international finance corporations are in the same boat. These organisations face the challenge of crucial information being lost in translation, mainly due to the different linguistic backgrounds of their team members.

Q1 is a crucial time for businesses to set the tone for the year. For event planners and conference organizers, this means delivering impactful global events that resonate with diverse audiences. Remote Simultaneous Interpretation (RSI) has become an indispensable tool in achieving this, but simply having RSI isn't enough. You need a strategic approach.

As Interprefy celebrates its 10th anniversary, we reflect on a decade of helping the language industry and empowering global communication. With rapid advancements in remote simultaneous interpretation (RSI) and real-time translation powered by AI, businesses now have unprecedented access to seamless, multilingual interactions that constantly adapt to an increasingly globalised world.

For many businesses, expanding into new markets is the key to growth. However, as you move into other regions, partner with suppliers, and draw from the global talent pool, language barriers will undoubtedly emerge. Language issues remain a persistent problem for many organisations. As a Forbes Insights and Rosetta Stone Business report reveals, more than 100 executives at large US businesses find that language barriers have a “significant impact” on business operations.