Manufacturing and construction companies all around the world are investigating how AI can help their companies. Many are asking us how AI can streamline their workflows. But one of the best uses for this growing technology is AI translation for frontline workers. Manufacturing and construction workers speak many different languages, which means language barriers are a constant challenge. These barriers can lead to miscommunication, costly delays in production, and safety risks.
That’s why the AI translation in the Walt Smart Radio System is enhancing frontline communication. Walt delivers accurate, reliable, instant translations in a simple user interface that’s easy to learn.
Let’s review how these AI technologies make it easier for manufacturing and construction workers to get the job done.
Key highlights:
- Frontline workers can overcome communication barriers in harsh, noisy environments thanks to AI translation and transcription.
- Companies can improve productivity and efficiency while erasing language barriers by incorporating AI translation tools on the job site.
- The Walt Smart Radio System displays AI-powered translations for manufacturing and construction workers, simplifying communication and reducing misunderstandings.
1. AI Translation Devices Adapt to each Worker’s Preferred Language
Historically, workers would have to stop what they were doing to find a bilingual colleague who could translate for them. Unfortunately, this stopgap measure has always been costly and inefficient. Now, smart radios like the Walt can instantly translate from one language into any worker’s preferred language, so they can focus on their jobs.
This AI translation software also generates transcriptions of every message, so you’ll always have a record of their conversations with coworkers and supervisors. With automatic dictation and text-to-speech, you can be sure your workers will always receive instructions, safety guidelines, and facility updates in their preferred language.
2. AI Enables Real-Time Speech Translation
Walt Smart Radios are real-time translation devices. These smart radios provide accurate translations, allowing workers to communicate effortlessly across 20+ languages. This feature is particularly beneficial in loud or harsh environments because the speech-to-text translations are preserved on the device even if workers miss the original notification.
| Manufacturing Environments Where Workers Could Benefit from AI Translation Services | Construction Job Sites Where Workers Could Benefit from AI Translation Technology |
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Digital tools equipped with AI software for translation can improve worker safety and productivity in these environments. Now workers won’t have to stop what they’re doing to find someone to translate for them. Plus, plant managers and construction foremen won’t have to worry about whether workers understand their instructions.
The Walt Smart Radio System makes it easier for everyone to work together and stay safe regardless of what languages they speak. Our AI language translation and communication device is simple and intuitive for everyone on your team.
Keep reading: Understand the impact of AI-powered language translation in the frontline
3. AI in Translation Feels Natural for the Receiver and Sender
On our smart industrial radio, the sender communicates in their preferred language and the message is transcribed into the receiver’s preferred language automatically. Each user sets their preferred language when they log in to a Walt, and from that moment forward they won’t have any more language barriers on the worksite. Communication feels effortless and natural no matter what languages workers speak.
But what if a Walt is shared among workers on different shifts? No problem. Each worker’s language preference stays with them because it’s assigned to their user account, and not the radio itself. Whenever they log onto any Walt, they’ll see an AI transcription and translation of every message they’ve exchanged with other crew members.
Keep reading: Uncover the differences between digital and analog radio systems
4. AI Tools Ease Workforce Management and Digital Transformation
The Walt Smart Radio System goes beyond AI translations by offering a complete digital communications platform. This system is the weavix Internet of Workers (IoW), which has been designed to empower the frontline workforce while delivering productivity analytics to manufacturing and construction managers. IoW brings the promises of IoT to frontline workers, giving organizations new ways to make data-driven decisions, improve collaboration, and reduce safety risks.
IoW systems like Walt complement the Internet of Things (IoT), providing insights into worker productivity and operational efficiency. And one of the best ways for IoW to improve worker efficiency is by serving as an AI translation platform. With advanced communication solutions like Walt, businesses can modernize operations and ensure that all workers are aligned with organizational goals, regardless of what language they speak.
Keep reading: Learn the differences between IoT & IoW
5. AI Translation Services Lower Costs and Improve Efficiency
AI translation devices can lead to significant cost savings for manufacturers and construction companies. Smart radios with this functionality can reduce misunderstandings due to language barriers, allowing companies to avoid costly errors, delays, and rework.
The efficiency gains from clear and accurate communication translate into improved project timelines and reduced operational costs. This means that typically, total cost of ownership (TCO) of the Walt Smart Radio System by platform is offset by the substantial productivity and safety benefits it brings to manufacturing and construction operations.
Keep reading: Explore our safety solutions for the frontline
How Can AI Translation Tools Impact Communications for Manufacturing and Construction?
AI translation tools like Walt extend your workers’ digital toolkit, allowing them to overcome language barriers with ease.
This simple AI translation device also gives more accurate translations compared to other tools, which means workers will use it again and again once it’s deployed on the jobsite. They won’t have to stop what they’re doing to find a bilingual colleague who can translate for them. They’ll be able to get answers quickly from anyone on their crew, and finish the job they started.
“What’s one of the most impactful ways we see it being used right away? Translation. We have over 13 languages spoken in our facilities. Many of our team members are bilingual. But being able to speak in their native tongue can be very impactful.” – David Kapic, former COO at Stella & Chewy’s
What Do AI Translations Mean for You?
AI translation offers practical solutions to everyday communication challenges in manufacturing and construction. This technology empowers workers with accurate, real-time translations for any issue that might come up on the worksite.
The Walt Smart Radio System ensures language barriers will no longer get in the way of your workers’ safety, efficiency, and productivity. Companies can solve their communication challenges, optimize frontline management, and connect their entire workforce with these digital transformation tools.
For more information on how Walt can benefit your organization, request a demo today.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is AI translation?
AI translation is the process of using large language models (LLMs) to quickly translate from one language to another through digital tools.
For example, when AI translation technology is deployed on the worksite through smart industrial radios, messages from one worker to another can be translated on the screen of the device and translated aloud at the same time. This type of automatic dictation ensures workers receive messages in their preferred language even in harsh, noisy environments.
How does AI translation work?
AI translation works by training algorithms on established translations between two different languages and integrating those translations with LLMs, which it then uses to predict the most likely word to appear next in a phrase or sentence based on context clues. The more AI translates between two different languages, the more proficient it will become and the more accurate it will be.
The Walt Smart Radio System relies on Microsoft Azure for real-time translations across 20+ languages for frontline workers. Microsoft first introduced AI translation software for speech in 2016, and they have been refining it ever since. At weavix, we are proud to empower the frontline workforce by incorporating this technology into Walt.
How does AI transcription relate to AI translation?
Every time a worker receives a message on their Walt, it is translated aloud and also preserved on the device as an AI transcription. In this way, the Walt Smart Radio System maintains a record of all worker communications as a single source of truth.
Managers can then use this system of record to coach their teams, improve productivity, and conduct safety audits. In addition, and perhaps most importantly, once that system of record has been established, this data becomes priceless for the organization.
AI transcription ensures that every incoming message is both dictated aloud and recorded on the device as part of a text thread. This functionality reduces communication barriers even further, since workers will always be able to read messages on their Walt even if they don’t hear them read out loud. Walt’s ability to preserve this system of record is one of the key factors that distinguishes our digital communications platform from a collection of analog radios.
Why are AI transcription and translation important for your larger data strategy?
As AI based on Large Language Models (LLMs) grows in popularity and performance, your business can stay competitive by deploying a smart radio with AI for translation and transcription.
And the more your workers use these features, the more valuable this data will become. What’s possible when you train AI on this data?
- Pinpoint potential safety issues so you can avoid accidents before they happen
- Anticipate drops in productivity and respond accordingly
- Proactively repair faulty equipment, preventing costly downtime
The faster you deploy a smart radio with AI translation and transcription capabilities, the more likely it is that your company will stay on the cutting edge of technology. In other words, those who wait several months or even years to switch from legacy radios to a smart radio system could inadvertently miss out on a low-hanging fruit to help your business and your teams succeed in the future.
Keep reading: Explore the differences between legacy and smart radios
Can AI translate languages in real time?
Yes! AI translation tools can absolutely deliver translations between frontline workers. English to Spanish and back to English? Simple. German to Japanese? Of course. The Walt Smart Radio System can deliver real-time translations across English, Spanish, German, Japanese, and many more languages.
With Walt, each worker’s language preference is saved to their user account. So, once they select their preferred language, all incoming messages to their Walt smart radio will be translated into that language both as text and audio dictation.
And because each worker’s language preference is saved to their user account, that means any Walt can be used by any worker on any shift. When a worker clocks in, they can grab any Walt, log in to that device with their NFC badge and PIN, and access instant translations in their preferred language anywhere on site.
