Translation guide
The practice of contracting work to an external company or third party, often to reduce costs or access specialized skills.
Referring to the practice of hiring an external company to perform services or produce goods.
The most direct and common term, a loanword from English. Used widely in business contexts.
当社はIT業務をアウトソーシングしています。
Our company outsources IT operations.
A native Japanese term meaning 'external consignment'. Slightly more formal and often used in official documents.
製造工程を外部委託することにしました。
We decided to outsource the manufacturing process.
Literally 'to place an outside order'. Commonly used for subcontracting manufacturing or services.
部品の生産を外注しています。
We outsource the production of parts.
Specifically contracting software development or IT services to an external vendor.
Refers to offshore development, a common type of IT outsourcing where work is sent to a foreign country.
コスト削減のため、オフショア開発を利用しています。
We use offshore development to reduce costs.
Explicitly IT outsourcing. Often used when the context requires clarity.
ITアウトソーシングの市場は拡大しています。
The IT outsourcing market is expanding.
Outsourcing of entire business functions like HR, accounting, or customer support.
The full loanword for BPO. Common in corporate settings.
経理業務をビジネスプロセスアウトソーシングに切り替えました。
We switched accounting operations to business process outsourcing.
The abbreviation BPO is widely understood in business contexts.
BPOを活用して効率化を図ります。
We will utilize BPO to improve efficiency.
Using 'outsource' in a non-business sense, e.g., delegating personal tasks.
Means 'to leave it to someone else'. Used when you delegate a task informally, often with a nuance of avoiding responsibility.
家事を全部人任せにするわけにはいかない。
I can't just outsource all the housework.
Can be used humorously or casually for personal tasks, like 'outsourcing' cooking to a restaurant.
今夜の夕食は外注しよう。
Let's outsource dinner tonight.
アウトソーシング is the broadest term, covering all types of outsourcing. 外部委託 is more formal and often used in contracts. 外注 specifically refers to placing an order for goods or services with an outside supplier, common in manufacturing.
ITのアウトソーシングが進んでいる。
IT outsourcing is advancing.
設計を外部委託する。
Outsource the design.
部品を外注する。
Outsource parts.
While アウトソーシング is common, in some traditional industries or formal writing, native terms like 外部委託 may be preferred. Using too many katakana loanwords can sound overly casual or trendy.
多くの企業がカスタマーサービスをアウトソーシングしています。
Many companies are outsourcing their customer service.
生産を中国に外注することに決めました。
We decided to outsource the production to China.