Business process outsourcing (BPO) involves contracting non-core business functions like human resources, finance, and customer service to third-party providers. There are different types of BPO including back office outsourcing of internal functions, front office outsourcing of customer-facing services, offshore outsourcing outside a country, and nearshore outsourcing to neighboring countries. Knowledge process outsourcing and legal process outsourcing are specialized segments involving greater skills. While BPO allows companies to focus on core competencies, risks include failure to meet obligations and loss of flexibility. Proper management through clear contracts and business continuity plans can maximize benefits and minimize threats of outsourcing key business systems and processes.