Interprefy CEO says AI translation will drive globalization

According to Oddmund Braaten, the chief executive officer of language technology provider Interprefy, the next era of global business expansion will rely heavily on scaling multilingual communication. While international commerce has historically focused on physical supply chains and digital connectivity, Braaten asserts that the future belongs to organizations that can seamlessly bridge linguistic divides. AI-driven speech translation, real-time captioning, and advanced multilingual platforms are now making this level of accessibility affordable and scalable for everyday corporate operations.

The need for these technological solutions is underscored by severe communication gaps within multinational organizations. Although English is the default language for global business, less than 20 percent of the world's population speaks it fluently. This disparity creates unequal workplaces where over half of all employees have experienced language barriers. Furthermore, 65 percent of corporate executives report that language differences cause significant communication gaps between management and staff, which silences valuable local insights and stifles innovation.

These linguistic barriers also carry heavy financial consequences. Research shows that nearly 50 percent of executives have suffered direct financial losses because of language obstacles. Additionally, just over two-thirds of companies admit they have lost international business opportunities due to a lack of multilingual capabilities. When high-stakes negotiations, client onboarding, or service deliveries lack linguistic precision, trust breaks down, leading to costly delays and missed revenue.

To combat these inefficiencies, companies are increasingly adopting AI-powered speech recognition and translation engines. These tools allow employees and clients to participate in meetings and events using their preferred languages on their own devices. While organizations must still address challenges regarding data security and industry-specific terminology, integrating these AI systems transforms multilingual communication from a mere support function into a core strategic asset.