Outsourcing is the business practice of contracting out a company's work tasks, functions, or processes to external third-party providers or service providers, which were previously carried out internally by the company's own employees. Companies may choose to outsource for various reasons, such as to reduce costs, improve efficiency, access specialised skills or technologies, or focus on their core business activities. Outsourcing can involve a wide range of functions, including manufacturing, information technology services, customer support, human resources, and accounting. While it can offer benefits to companies, outsourcing can also have implications for the company's employees, potentially leading to job losses or changes in working conditions, and can also raise ethical considerations related to labor practices and quality control in the outsourced operations.