Business services are activities that benefit companies without supplying physical products. They include marketing, consultation and advice, logistics (including travel and facilities services), waste handling, staffing services, shipping, administration and security services to name just a few of the many kinds of service that companies use for their day-to-day operations. Most businesses have a need for at least one of these different kinds of business services. The success or failure of a service business often boils down to whether or not it gets four things right.
In modern management theory, most business services are considered to be part of the tertiary economic sector, which is the third tier of the three-sector model that economists commonly use to describe the economy. The primary economic sector consists of mining and agriculture, while the secondary sector includes manufacturing tangible goods. The tertiary economic sector includes the business services industry, which includes consulting, information technology and other high-tech industries.
Many companies have a need for various business services in order to keep their own operations running smoothly and efficiently. For example, a company that provides information technology consulting might be providing a vital service to other companies by helping them make more efficient use of their computer systems. This can help increase productivity, which is a critical element of most businesses.
Another example of a business service is an animal control or pest extermination service that works with companies to handle infestations. This can be important for the health and safety of employees and the overall well-being of a company. It can also help prevent costly code violations and ensure that the company remains in compliance with all state and federal regulations.
Other kinds of business services that are becoming increasingly popular with both consumers and companies are logistics services, which encompass warehousing, packaging, fulfillment for online sales, inventory management and more. These can be especially useful for companies that manufacture their own goods, as they can reduce the amount of time and money that they spend on internal operations by outsourcing these tasks to third parties.
A third kind of business service is temporary work agency services, which help businesses find qualified workers when they need them. These can be particularly useful for companies that are experiencing seasonal hiring peaks or during periods of rapid growth. These kinds of services can also be a great way for new and emerging companies to test the waters of the business world before investing in their own permanent employee infrastructure.
A fourth and final type of business service is consulting services, which are provided by companies that offer advice on managing and operating a company. These can be highly specialized, such as those that provide advice on how to optimize logistics and fulfillment for an eCommerce company. Alternatively, they may be more general, such as those offered by management consulting firms, which might be used to help companies improve their overall profitability or efficiency. In any case, the goal of these services is to help companies achieve their desired results by providing them with advice and guidance.