Business services are those that support and complement core activities of business enterprises such as banking, insurance, transportation, warehousing and communication. They provide businesses with access to specialized expertise in areas such as company management, market research and risk management.
They are different from consumer services in that they cannot be stored for future consumption, and delivery of the service is simultaneous with customer demand and expectation. Examples of business services include a graphic design firm for corporate marketing and branding, an IT managed service provider for cloud infrastructure platforms or a security company that monitors device services for an enterprise. Business services can also be found in the form of a B2B (business to business) ecommerce site for purchasing office supplies or a production service that manufactures small runs of products for an industrial client.
The challenge for service-business managers is to create and deliver an experience that differentiates them from the competition. This requires a shift from product thinking to one that focuses on what customers value about the experience they receive.
As a result, many career paths within business services offer a variety of options to those interested in pursuing them. Some jobs may only require a high school diploma or GED certificate, while others might need a bachelor’s degree or graduate level education. The wide range of possibilities in this industry makes it a good choice for someone seeking a challenging and rewarding job, says Jennifer Spinelli, founder and CEO of home-buying company Watson Buys and an operations and management consultant.