Lexmark Translation Assistant uses Azure AI Translator to connect schools, families

An estimated 66 million people in the US speak a language other than English in the home. For families with school-aged children, this can create barriers to communicating with educators. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI) requires US school districts to ensure non-English households receive all announcements written in their native language. This regulation creates significant operational challenges and expenses for districts already operating on tight budgets. Finding reliable, affordable translation services for every required language can be difficult. Translation can take several days, delaying communications with families. Plus, translated documents are often text only, removing formatting and visual elements used in the English versions. 

Lexmark, a global imaging and internet of things (IoT) leader, developed the Lexmark Translation Assistant to help districts bridge language gaps and comply with federal regulations. The combination scanner/printer/translation solution offers real-time document translation using a Lexmark multifunction printer (MFP). Employees can scan any document, such as a newsletter, permission slip, or teacher’s note, select the appropriate language, and receive a translated document within minutes. All formatting and images are retained, so every family receives the same document, but in their native language. The MFP can also translate communications from a student’s family’s native language into English. 

Lexmark has a long history of developing global imaging and IoT solutions to solve user needs. The company recognizes that inspiration can come anywhere, anytime. For example, the idea for Translation Assistant originated from a pandemic-era conversation between a Lexmark employee and her daughter, a teacher. 

“The teacher told her mother that she was having a difficult time communicating with the non-English speaking parents of a student. She didn’t have a good way to quickly translate ad hoc communications that needed to be sent home,” says Marty DeGraff, Industry Director, Public Sector, Healthcare, & Financial Services at Lexmark. “Our education consultant went to the development teams and challenged them to create the capability to simply ‘copy’ a document into another language.” 

Bridging the communication gap with Azure AI Translator

Lexmark set out to create a simple, easy-to-use system that would enable schools to communicate with families in the language they spoke at home. There were several factors to consider. “We needed a service that could ingest documents and provide high-quality output that met customer needs for language translation and speed. Plus, we needed the ability to maintain the original document’s format,” DeGraff says. Lexmark found everything it needed and more in Azure AI Translator. 

Lexmark’s vision for Translation Assistant had two elements: hardware for scanning and printing, and a software-based translation component. A Lexmark MFP would satisfy the first part, but the company needed help with the translation piece. The company evaluated multiple solutions and ultimately selected Azure AI Translator to bridge the gaps between English and more than 100 languages.  

“We had great support from the Microsoft team during our investigation and integration of Azure AI Translator,” DeGraff says, and using Microsoft APIs made language and feature adoption straightforward and simple. “Without the Microsoft APIs, some features of Lexmark Translation Assistant would have been difficult, costly, or time-intensive to implement.” 

Uniform communications to all families

Today, schools can use Translation Assistant to communicate with households in their native language. The stand-alone scanner/printer supports translation among more than 100 languages. The process takes just a few minutes, meaning all households can receive school updates simultaneously. Translation Assistant also retains the original formatting and design, providing a uniform experience for families and students. 

The system has been extremely well received, DeGraff says. Translation Assistant saves schools significant time and money and expedites the enrollment process for students from households speaking different languages. Now, the organization is exploring other potential use cases for the product, including potential government applications. The goal: to find new ways to remove barriers that make it difficult for speakers of any language to apply for basic services. 

“Translation Assistant captures the essence of why we do what we do at Lexmark,” DeGraff says. “We innovate, we excel, and we support the communities where we live and work.” 

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