Translating conversations in the Zendesk Agent Workspace

Note: The Zendesk Agent Workspace must be activated to use this feature.

Agents can communicate with end users and other agents, even if they are using different languages, using the native translation feature in Agent Workspace.

The translation feature is enabled by default for all customers using the Agent Workspace.

This article includes the following topics:

• About the translation feature
• Using translation in the workspace
• The end-user experience

About the translation feature

With the native translation feature in Agent Workspace, agents can choose to translate incoming messages (coming from the end user) and outgoing messages (going to the end user) in the following channels:

• Live chat
• Social channels
• Sunshine Conversations channel
• Zendesk messaging

Additionally, agents can choose to translate incoming email messages sent by end users and created by the API. The native translation feature in Agent Workspace also supports the translation of incoming emails sent via other channels, such as web forms, web services, messaging Web Widget, Web Widget (Classic), and closed tickets, but it doesn't support any outbound emails sent to end users.

A user’s language is determined based on recent messages they have sent, then Google Translate is used to translate text.

If the agent’s and end user’s languages are different, a translation banner is displayed informing the agent of the language difference, and they can choose to enable translation for that conversation.

Both the original and translated messages sent by the agent appear in the Event log. End-user messages appear only in the original language.

Limitations to this feature include:

• There is a 5,000-character limit per message for translation. Any message over 5,000 characters will not be translated.
• SunCo Shorthands are not supported for translations.
• Translations for third-party widgets are not supported.

Using translation in the workspace

In Agent workspace, translation is managed by the agent currently conversing with the end user. This section discusses the following topics:

• Enabling translation
• Disabling translation
• Switching between the original and translated text

Enabling translation

When a language difference is detected in an incoming message, a banner appears on the workspace, letting the agent know the end user’s language and allowing them to enable translation, if they choose.

To enable translation for an incoming conversation

1. In the translation banner, click Translate. The banner updates to display the translation status:

   

2. If you do not want to enable translation for the conversation, click the X to dismiss the banner.

If you decline to translate a conversation initially, you can still enable translation during the conversation.

To enable translation in an ongoing conversation

• In the conversation header, click the Options menu (), then click Translate. The translation banner appears, displaying the translation status as shown above.

Disabling translation

You can also turn off translation if it is no longer needed – for instance, if a new end user takes over the conversation or if it is passed to another agent who speaks the same language as the end user.

To disable native translation

• In the translation banner, click Stop. Or, in the conversation header, click the Options menu (), then click Stop translating.

Switching between the original and translated message text

Agents can view an end user’s original (untranslated) messages, as well as the translated version of their own messages.

To view an end user’s original message text

• At the end of the end user’s message, click Show original. The untranslated version appears.

To view your own translated message text

• At the end of the message, click Show translation. The translated version of the message appears.

  

The end-user experience

When an agent enables translation for a conversation, the end user does not receive an activation notification—agent messages simply appear in their detected language. However, translated agent messages are identified in the conversation.

In a live chat, translated messages have a Show original link, which end users can click to display the untranslated message:

Through Social Messaging and Zendesk messaging, translated messages are indicated with the word Translated in their detected language; however, they cannot display the untranslated version of the message: