DeepL Report Finds Most Enterprises Still Use Manual Translation Workflows

DeepL has published its 2026 Language AI Report, revealing that many enterprises continue to depend on manual translation workflows despite growing investment in artificial intelligence, announced in a press release.

The report, titled Borderless Business: Transforming Translation in the Age of AI, surveyed business leaders across the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Japan. It found that 35% of global businesses still use fully manual translation processes, while 33% rely on traditional translation automation combining management systems with human review. Only 17% of respondents have implemented next-generation AI tools such as large language models or agentic AI for translation.

According to DeepL, translation is increasingly critical to daily operations, with the strongest impact seen in sales and marketing (26%), customer support (23%), and legal and finance (22%). The report also notes that 71% of business leaders prioritize transforming workflows with AI in 2026, aiming to improve customer experience, productivity, and time-to-market.

DeepL’s CEO Jarek Kutylowski stated that while AI adoption is widespread, productivity gains remain limited due to workflows still centered around manual processes rather than system automation.