There's a fascinating shift happening in the world of interpreting, and it's not just about technology; it’s about redefining interpreting as absolutely critical infrastructure. Imagine a situation in a hospital, a courtroom, or during an urgent social service interaction. Communication here isn't just important, it's a lifeline. And when language is a barrier, you don't need a fancy app that might or might not work; you need solid, reliable infrastructure. This is precisely the vision being built out, especially with some very interesting strategic moves in the DACH region.
Just recently, at the end of April, we saw a significant development: the Austria-based SAVD Videodolmetschen Group announced its acquisition of Dolatel, an interpreting provider based in Cologne. Now, this isn't just another corporate merger. Dolatel has been a bit of a quiet champion, providing something quite remarkable: 24/7 access to a network of around 650 interpreters covering over 120 languages, all without users needing to install a single piece of software. Think about that – instant, effective, and almost invisible interpreting, absolutely vital for public institutions. SAVD, already a major force in video interpreting across Austria and Germany, handling upwards of 30,000 interpreting sessions a month, clearly saw the immense value here.
What makes this move particularly smart is the synergy. If SAVD has been the go-to for video interpreting, Dolatel has been its audio-first counterpart, diligently powering essential conversations. Bringing them together is less about just getting bigger and more about creating a truly comprehensive, smarter interpreting network. Leadership at SAVD noted that Dolatel brings an efficient, agile, and trusted team, seeing it as a perfect way to significantly boost their telephone and audio interpreting services and gain capacity quickly, without any compromise on the quality front. It's a strategic enhancement of their already robust offering.
This move, backed since 2022 by the Paris-based private equity firm IMPACT Partners – who notably focus on social and inclusive entrepreneurship – signals that SAVD isn’t just expanding; it's fundamentally changing how public bodies in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland approach multilingual communication. The former head of Dolatel aptly put it that remote interpreting, once seen as just an alternative, is now the standard. This merger aims to push that standard even higher. We're talking about aiming for uninterrupted service, far greater availability of interpreters, and a shared, highly scalable tech infrastructure, all whilst ensuring the experience for the end-user, like a doctor or a court official, remains utterly frictionless.
This really underscores a crucial point: making language access invisible yet absolutely essential. In critical situations where miscommunication can have severe consequences, companies like SAVD and Dolatel are working diligently behind the scenes. Their work ensures that language differences don't obstruct access to care, justice, or vital support. Most people might never consciously see this interpreting infrastructure in action, but its impact is incredibly clear and profoundly important. It’s about building a more inclusive and equitable society by ensuring everyone can be understood, regardless of the language they speak. With Dolatel's extensive network and cloud-based platform now part of the SAVD Group, their capacity to deliver on this promise across the DACH region is set to grow substantially, turning the vision of interpreting as a utility into a tangible reality.