Everyone has experienced communication challenges from traveling, watching an international film or trying to talk with a young child. Very quickly you learn either to rely on facial expressions, pull out Google translate or maybe use a calculator. Building understanding, but more importantly, trust is no easy task.

Working in Malaysia for two years and not speaking any of the local languages or understanding the cultural elements at first, I had to learn how to build trust quickly. After I learned enough Malay, I scanned the environment to string similar conversations. Often, conversations led to food and family, especially in business situations.

Today, working between different regions and countries in highly regulated environments with varying priorities – language and technical understanding can be a greater challenge. It’s not just a matter of knowing the language but interpreting unspoken ques and regulatory requirements. Luckily, in the dairy industry, there are several benchmarks for microbiological standards that make language a little less challenging.

Data can cut through language barriers, as well as complicate communication if expectations are not met. Bad data can throw off a system that is based on trust and integrity. Accuracy becomes even more important as the dairy industry becomes more globally interconnected. Having accurate data can help understanding where we are at today and where we want to go without needing a lot of explanation.

By Anne Bigalke
VP of International Markets, QualiTru Sampling Systems
anne@qualitru.com   Follow Anne on LinkedIn