Business Services
Business services are activities that benefit companies without supplying physical products. Companies rely on these services for marketing, production, safety, cost and convenience purposes. They range from consulting to waste handling. The coronavirus pandemic has accelerated this industry’s growth, as firms are outsourcing more and more of their internal services.
These services are essentially the backbone of the economy. Companies like airlines, banks, software companies and cleaning services fall into this category. Business services are also critical to the success of smaller businesses. Many small businesses rely on these services for advertising, consulting, logistics (including travel and facilities), staffing services, shipping, waste handling, administrative and security services to name a few.
Unlike manufacturing and retail, which produce tangible goods, business services don’t have a physical form. This makes them intangible, but it also means they can’t be discarded or recycled. As such, they need to be managed and delivered properly, and this is where business service providers come in.
A company providing a business service could be a consultant that provides advice, or a cleaning services company that keeps a client’s office clean and tidy. Those are just two examples, but there are countless others across the world that provide vital business support.
The global market for business services is growing rapidly as more companies outsource their internal functions to cut costs and improve efficiency. The burgeoning industry is expected to generate more than $7 trillion by 2025, according to a recent report by McKinsey & Company.
However, despite the high growth potential, the industry still faces challenges, including low average productivity and persisting legal barriers. European Union (EU) internal market legislation and policy actions are aimed at removing these obstacles and stimulating competitiveness in the sector.
In addition, companies that offer business services need to keep up with changing customer demands and a dynamic marketplace. They must be able to anticipate trends and changes in the economic environment, and find creative ways to streamline their operations and lower costs at the same time. This is a difficult task for most companies, but it is where business service providers truly shine.
As the world becomes increasingly digitized, business services are becoming more centralized and outsourced. This has led to a greater demand for high-quality and efficient service providers. For example, customers expect the same level of quality from their bank as they do from their airline, and they’re willing to pay for it. A business that offers poor customer service will quickly lose market share to a competitor that provides a better experience. This is why it’s important for business service providers to invest in training and technology. They need to be able to deliver value at scale, and they must keep up with the latest digital developments.