Business services are the intangible goods a company sells to other companies. This includes everything from a basic utility such as an energy provider, to consulting firms that advise other businesses regarding company financing and top level strategy such as mergers. Other types of business services include marketing, accounting, and IT support. A company that specializes in providing these kinds of services can generate substantial revenue for its parent firm.
A successful service business relies upon four key elements: a clear definition of customer needs, a balanced Service Portfolio, effective processes and a solid infrastructure. A successful service business also focuses on creating value for its customers and ensuring that the organization is capable of delivering the benefits of the service to its customers in a cost-effective manner.
In order to define a business service, it is important to understand who represents the customer and what are the requirements that they want satisfied. This can be done through a series of powerful techniques that help translate these requirements into specific measurable objectives. It is important that these objectives are agreed with the customer.
While a business services industry is not as tangible as products such as computers or automobiles, it is still an important sector of the economy. These services offer a range of essential functions to businesses and the overall economy, from facilitating the exchange of money to reducing risk. This is why the business services industry is a vital component of global trade.
Depending on the industry, jobs in a business services industry can vary widely. For example, the duties of an IT business service provider involve providing technical support for a company’s computer systems and networks. The duties of a finance business service provider include assisting businesses with accounting, taxes, payroll, and investments. The duties of a procurement and shipping business service provider are to ensure that a company has the material supplies it needs for its operations as well as product for sale to customers.
When a business service is provided through the Internet, it is known as an online business service. A popular example of an online business service is a cloud computing platform, which allows businesses to store data on a remote server. This is often cheaper and more secure than storing data on local servers.
A company can outsource the provision of many of its business services if it does not have the resources internally to provide these services. Some of the most commonly outsourced business services are IT support, accounting, and marketing. Other services that a company might outsource are warehousing and transportation, which allow it to avoid the expense of maintaining its own warehouse space. In addition to reducing costs, outsourcing these business services can enable companies to focus on their core competencies. Moreover, outsourcing can give companies access to expertise that they might not have in-house. This can be especially beneficial if the company is trying to enter a new market or develop an innovative product.