Keeping up with new models, design changes and the latest technology can be a tremendous challenge for technical documentation and training departments responsible for producing supporting documentation. Deadlines are firm, budgets are tight, and qualified writers, illustrators and other professionals are hard to find (and often hard to afford). Providing a consistent, high-quality user experience across widely different languages and cultures can be even more daunting. In order to achieve top level content follow these simple best practices to ensure success.
Partner with a Global Leader in Automotive
For more than two decades, companies have had the need for technical documentation with the clarity, accuracy, and attention to detail that service personnel and vehicle owners appreciate. It should provide comprehensive documentation services for companies operating on a global stage—writing, illustrating, translating, publishing, and specialized services, for any project, in any format. You should invest in a team that has extensive knowledge of the automotive industry, and has the infrastructure and expertise to support your automotive partners worldwide.
Ensure you have Experienced Automotive Professionals Assisting
Your writers should be automotive engineers with experience in all sectors of the automotive industry—from passenger cars to heavy trucks, military vehicles, buses, agricultural vehicles and specialized vehicles of all kinds. Along with a passion for clear writing, they should have the understanding and perspective of industry professionals who know firsthand what users need from their documentation. Make sure that they’re backed by a team of illustrators, editors, animators and other professionals able to meet any documentation requirement, from traditional print media to the latest interactive and mobile solutions.
Ensure you have Specialized Engineering Expertise
Another advantage of having automotive engineers on staff is the ability to complement superior technical content with a wide range of specialized services. Be sure to find a flexible global resource that is willing and able to develop innovative solutions and solve complex problems for your automotive clients. Engagements range from product design consulting to creating custom workflow management tools, defining service procedures and validating their repair times.
Determine a Flexible Multi-shore Delivery Platform
Make sure when working with workshops and content development centers worldwide, that they can provide cost-efficient production on-shore, near-shore, and off-shore—wherever resources can be used most effectively. Check to see if they have developed their own innovative tools and methodologies to preserve quality while delivering the best value for your technical documentation budget.
Excellent technical authoring can accelerate user adoption, increase customer loyalty, reduce support costs and increase overall customer satisfaction. Providing well thought-out content that is standardized across all your documents allows you to get ahead of your competition. Use these best practices as guidelines when thinking about your technical content development plan.
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