The Business services industry includes work that benefits companies without supplying them with physical products. This can include anything from a delivery service to a day care that helps employees maintain a work/life balance and saves them money on gas or other transportation costs. Companies rely on these types of business services for marketing, production, safety and convenience purposes, as well as to keep their workplaces running efficiently. This category of work encompasses an entire array of industries including information technology, consulting, advertising, staffing services, logistics (including travel and facilities management), waste handling and shipping.
For example, a company may hire an animal control service to handle the occasional office pest infestation. This allows the business to remain productive and avoid code violations. Similarly, many companies require the services of tech support professionals to assist them in troubleshooting computer or network issues. This allows the company to quickly solve problems and ensure that employees are able to get back to work.
Another important type of business services is those that help a company keep up with technological advances. This is especially true of the field of information technology, or IT. IT consultants can help businesses manage and maintain their infrastructure, upgrade or expand systems, create an employee self-service portal and implement other innovations that will improve productivity. These consultants also help companies manage the costs of these systems, ensuring that they are meeting business needs while keeping expenses low.
In order to be successful in the service industry, business managers need to develop a new tool kit that differs from those used by product-based companies. For instance, while product designers focus on the characteristics that buyers will value, business service designers should focus on the customer experience.
Managing a service business is challenging because the health of the company depends on the soundness of its offering and the management of the people who deliver it. If these factors are not managed properly, the company may struggle to survive.
The business services industry provides a variety of career paths for individuals with different skill sets and education levels. Some jobs in this sector can be completed with as little as a high school diploma or GED certificate, while others require an associate’s degree or higher. Regardless of the job title, all business services professionals must have strong communication and interpersonal skills to thrive.
A career in Business services is a good fit for many people because it offers numerous opportunities for advancement and flexibility, Spinelli says. However, this career path is not right for everyone because it can be demanding and stressful, she notes. Those who are not comfortable with the pace and pressure of this environment should look elsewhere for work, she adds. Also, those who do not enjoy working closely with customers or clients might want to consider another industry. This includes jobs in manufacturing, retail and wholesale. These industries have similar compensation and salary structures as Business services.