Our post on open-source translation management systems (TMS) generated reactions from suppliers to that sector. One comment from SDL requires a clarification of a statement that we made, so we figured that it was time to clear up some questions that have been popping up since SDL began briefing WorldServer customers on its plans for future translation management projects. We’ll address other vendor comments in upcoming posts.

First, the clarification for SDL. WorldServer product manager Andrew Thomas pointed out that our timing was off when we wrote that “users of Idiom WorldServer [will] need to move off that system in the coming year.” He writes that “WorldServer customers with a current support and maintenance contract will be supported until we merge all of our TMS applications into a single product line and provide a true migration path for them. Once this new product is released, WorldServer users will have a minimum of 365 days to migrate to the new system.” That merger is projected for sometime in the next 12 months, giving the 80 Idiom buyers a longer runway — at least two years — to continue using WorldServer. Nostra culpa.

Back in July, we spoke with CEO Mark Lancaster under a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) about the company’s translation management system brands. This week, we checked in with him for an update on:

• The next generation for TMS. SDL is developing next-generation translation management software that will supersede the Idiom, SDL, and TRADOS enterprise products. Lancaster told us that the product will take the best features from the Idiom, SDL, and TRADOS enterprise products and layer them on top of a newly developed Common Enterprise Application Framework (CEAF). How and when will CEAF be delivered? Our NDA prevents us from revealing the details, but like any product that is not yet available, in PowerPoint it looks better, faster, smaller, more functional, and desirable than what is currently on the shelf. Lancaster told us that CEAF already underlies SDL’s Global Authoring Management System (GAMS).
• Coming attractions for the desktop. Last week at tekom‘s tcworld conference in Wiesbaden, the company previewed some of the new code-named “Rivelin” desktop translation technology (note: Rivelin is a river near SDL’s Sheffield development lab). We will discuss SDL’s new desktop technology in an upcoming post.
• The migration. Lancaster says that “SDL will endeavor to make the transition as painless as possible,” and is creating a tool set for users to migrate processes, interfaces, training, and other elements of their applications to the specifics of the next-gen platform.

While SDL may give a new meaning to the translation management category with its next-generation product, it must first deliver the product. SDL has surely calculated this interregnum into its plans, but it does present an opportunity for enterprise and house TMS rivals such as Across, Lionbridge, Sajan, Translations.com, and perhaps a revitalized, community-driven, open-source Global Sight to pitch their solutions as an alternative to SDL’s futureware.

Enterprise-level applications have tenures measured in half-decades and more, so few buyers will adopt any underlying technology without a heap of reassurance about capabilities, future directions, engineering competencies, and enduring investment in technology. This certainty could come from demonstrating operational products today (Across, Sajan, et al.) or from SDL’s many sales representatives who will be pushing the next-gen TMS. This battle royale of existing versus future products promises an action-packed 2009 and 2010 for the translation management sector.