Business services are the activities that support a business yet do not produce a tangible commodity. These activities are often invisible to customers, such as information technology (IT) services that help a company align its IT assets with the needs of its employees and customers, or logistics services that streamline shipping and other supply chain processes. Companies offer these business services to other businesses or individuals to improve productivity, reduce costs and increase efficiency.

These intangible activities provide a wide range of benefits to the businesses that employ them. They can help a business focus on its strategic-based goals and improve the relationship between a manufacturer and its customers. In addition, they can also reduce the number of jobs that a company has to perform in-house and free up resources for higher-level projects that require more skill and expertise.

In some cases, companies outsource their business services to third-party providers because they do not have the in-house expertise. Some of the most common business services include warehousing, transportation and waste management. The value of these services can be measured in terms of the time and money saved by outsourcing them.

The concept of business services has been evolving rapidly. New tools and approaches are being developed that help managers craft successful business services in areas where the traditional techniques have been less fruitful. One of these approaches, which was developed as part of a core teaching module at Harvard Business School, recognizes that service businesses operate differently from product businesses. It distinguishes four critical elements of service design that must be in place for a company to succeed.

Unlike physical goods, which can be stored and sold at a later date, services must be provided immediately as they are consumed. Because of this, service businesses must focus on the experience that customers have rather than on characteristics that may differentiate them from their competitors. The experience a customer has with a service can be shaped by many factors, including the convenience of the location, the friendliness of interactions with staff and the ability to compare prices.

A company’s business-to-business (B2B) services can be a significant source of revenue and can contribute to the profitability of its organization. B2B services can also help a company expand into new markets, access new technologies and enhance its reputation. However, B2B services must be adapted to the requirements of each individual company and be customized to suit the needs of their specific client base.

In general, a service company’s success is determined by the degree to which it can meet the specific requirements of its clients and improve the quality of its services over time. A successful service business has a plan for each of the four core elements and works to integrate them. Without this, a service business will struggle to survive. However, it is not possible to point to best practices in any of the four areas; rather, success depends on the way each element is integrated with the others.