Business services are activities that support and enable the business to function and deliver goods and/or services. These activities differ from the core activity of producing or delivering goods because they do not result in the creation of a physical product and are not stored in inventory for future use. Instead, they derive their value from intangible elements like interactions, expertise, management and customer service. Examples of business services include warehousing, transportation and logistics, information technology (IT) and accounting.
A business services company specializes in fine-tuning the operations that keep your business running smoothly. By automating processes, reorganizing resources and introducing new software, business process improvement projects cut down on manual labor and allow employees to spend more time collaborating with customers. The resulting nimble processes are flexible enough to adapt as your business evolves, keeping you competitive in a fast-changing industry.
For example, a company that provides marketing services might engage in a detailed consultation with potential clients to determine their needs and goals before the work begins. Then they might provide a range of marketing strategies, designs and content to help the client increase return on ad spend, promote their brand and engage with customers across multiple channels.
Many jobs in the business services sector require only a high school diploma, GED certificate or vocational degree. But some jobs, like those of a consultant, may demand a bachelor’s or even a graduate degree.