What is the term for when a company relocates part of its business operations to another country?

The correct term for when a company relocates part of its business operations to another country is offshoring. Offshoring involves transferring specific business functions or processes to an entity located in a different country, often to take advantage of cost reductions, skilled labor, or favorable economic conditions.

Outsourcing, while related, refers to the practice of delegating certain tasks or services to an external third-party provider regardless of location. This means a company could outsource a function to a provider in the same country or abroad, but offshoring specifically emphasizes the geographic aspect of the relocation.

Subcontracting involves a company hiring another company to complete a specific task or project but does not necessarily indicate that the task is carried out in a different country. It focuses more on the contractual relationship between the two companies rather than their geographical locations.

Vendor management refers to the process of managing relationships with suppliers and service providers, and it does not inherently involve relocating operations to another country. This term is about overseeing and optimizing performance and cost-effectiveness of third-party vendors.

Understanding these distinctions helps clarify the specific actions involved in business strategies related to international operations and management practices.