What is outsourcing? What are the trends in human resource outsourcing?

Outsourcing refers to the practice of having another company (a vendor, third-party provider, or consultant) provide services. Outsourcing gives the company access to in-depth expertise and is often more economical as well. Today's outsourcing for HR departments is moving more into areas that automate process and support decision making. Examples include recruitment process outsourcing and benefits administration. Small companies sometimes outsource most of their HR work.