to outsource / remove from storage
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to outsource
(Business) To assign business tasks, production steps, or entire departments to an external company or service provider, often in order to reduce costs.
Das Unternehmen hat beschlossen, den Kundenservice ins Ausland auszulagern.
The company decided to outsource customer service abroad.
to remove from storage
To take objects or goods out of a warehouse, cellar, or another storage place.
Im Frühling müssen wir die Gartenmöbel wieder aus dem Schuppen auslagern.
In spring, we have to take the garden furniture out of storage from the shed again.
'Auslagern' (to outsource / remove from storage) is a separable verb. The prefix 'aus-' stands at the end in a main clause. In subordinate clauses and in the infinitive with 'zu', the verb stays together.
Die Firma lagert ihre IT-Abteilung aus.
The company outsources its IT department.
The meaning depends on the object. If abstract things such as 'Produktion' (production), 'Buchhaltung' (accounting), or 'Dienstleistungen' (services) are mentioned, outsourcing (m01) is meant. With concrete objects such as 'Möbel' (furniture), 'Akten' (files), or 'Waren' (goods), it means taking something out of storage (m02).
Viele Firmen lagern ihren Kundenservice aus.
Many companies outsource their customer service.
In the meaning 'outsourcen' (to outsource), 'auslagern' (to outsource) is a typical term from business language. It is often used with the prepositions 'an' (to whom?) or 'in'/'nach' (to where?).
Der Konzern hat die Fertigung an einen externen Dienstleister ausgelagert.
The corporation outsourced production to an external service provider.
In this meaning, the word is to be understood literally: you take something 'aus' (out of) a 'Lager' (storage/warehouse). Typical places are 'aus dem Keller' (from the cellar), 'vom Dachboden' (from the attic), or 'aus dem Schuppen' (from the shed).
Jeden Herbst lagern wir die Gartenstühle wieder ein und im Frühling lagern wir sie aus.
Every fall we put the garden chairs back into storage, and in spring we take them out again.
