Breaking language barriers: how AI is transforming global communication

It’s no secret that English is considered the global language of business—but fewer than 20% of the world’s population speaks it fluently. The result? Over a third of organizations struggle to reach their true potential because of language and communication barriers.

In our latest report—The language revolution: how AI is improving the way businesses communicate—we surveyed 780 global decision-makers to explore the impact of language barriers on their business. 

The findings show that AI-powered language solutions not only enable deeper collaboration in a multilingual world, but also deliver measurable economic and revenue benefits.

The growing impact of language on business

Language barriers hinder growth. In fact, 35% of companies say they struggle to expand into new markets, 32% have difficulty engaging with customers based abroad, and 24% witness a breakdown in internal communication.

Let’s break down these challenges:

Roadblocks to expansion

As businesses grow, everything from marketing materials to legal contracts needs to be adapted for local audiences. Relying on traditional translation services alone can be slow and costly—potentially stalling market entry and losing ground to competitors.

Why going local matters

75% of international shoppers prefer to buy in their native language, and 59% of non-English speaking consumers rarely or never purchase from English-only websites. That’s why it’s critical to get multilingual customer interactions right—not just for engagement, but for building trust and driving revenue.

The hidden drain on productivity

55% of workers lose up to two hours each day as a result of poor communication. From gaps in internal communication to misinterpretations in multilingual meetings, ineffective communication is costing companies millions, which slows decision-making and creates inefficiencies across teams.

The fact is, language barriers impact every aspect of global businesses, from customer service failures to missed revenue opportunities. 

The future of communication 

For global decision-makers, Language AI—designed for precise, context-aware communication—has become the only way to bridge communication gaps at scale. 

And the demand is clear: of the 72% of executives who plan to integrate AI into their operations in 2025, 25% are specifically looking to use it for specialized tasks like translation.

But for the global decision-makers we interviewed, using specialized AI isn’t about replacing human expertise; it’s about optimizing it. The survey findings show that the most successful organizations are strategically deciding when human oversight is critical and when AI alone can deliver what’s needed.

As DeepL’s CTO, Sebastian Enderlin, puts it, “High-risk scenarios (such as a doctor’s prescription or a legally binding contract) benefit from human review and editing. But for lower-risk scenarios, such as internal emails, full human oversight isn’t essential because a small mistranslation won’t have serious consequences.”

So, where can Language AI help?

Many global organizations are already leveraging Language AI to break down language barriers and improve efficiency. Here are just a few ways they’re using it:

• Enhancing multilingual communication: by translating internal documents, emails, and reports to streamline collaboration across global teams
• Improving customer engagement: by localizing websites, support interactions, and marketing materials to connect with international audiences
• Supporting regulatory compliance: by accurately translating contracts and legal documents, while ensuring adherence to industry regulations
• Boosting operational efficiency: by reducing manual translation workloads and increasing speed without sacrificing accuracy

Take Panasonic Connect as an example. As part of the Panasonic Group, it needed an easier way to bridge language barriers across its global workforce. Employees were looking for a solution that could deliver both speed and natural fluency in translation.

By using Language AI, Panasonic Connect is now transforming multilingual communication across teams. According to Shoji Otsubo, Senior Manager and AI Technology Evangelist, the speed and accuracy of DeepL’s translations make communication as natural as writing in Japanese. He describes the impact of clear, fast translations as “truly breathtaking.”

Leveraging Language AI for better communication: read the Panasonic Connect case study

Explore the full findings

Access DeepL’s Language AI Report 2025 for a complete look at how businesses are overcoming language barriers with Language AI. 

Explore key findings from our global survey, real-world success stories from organizations like Deutsche Bahn and Panasonic Connect, and expert insights from bestselling author and culture expert Erin Meyer. 

Plus, gain actionable strategies to help your organization communicate more effectively, improve operational efficiency, and stay competitive in an increasingly multilingual world.