Business services are the various tasks and activities that help a business, but don’t result in the production of a tangible good. These are commonly known as “non-product” companies, and they make up a significant portion of the commercial world. They include consulting, marketing, travel, logistics, waste handling, staffing services and many others.

In a broad sense, nearly all businesses offer some sort of business service. Typically, they are offered to other businesses (business-to-business) or to end customers (business-to-consumer). Regardless of their scope, these companies all have some critical similarities, including an intangible value and the fact that they are often highly competitive in terms of price.

A key challenge for service companies is designing their offering. While product designers focus on the features that buyers will value, service designers need to shift their thinking to consider what the customer will experience during and after the delivery of their offering. They also need to design the organization’s processes and systems to support delivery of the service.

For example, a company that delivers business travel services might focus on the convenience of its scheduling and ticketing system. It might also develop systems to track customer satisfaction, which can be used to improve the efficiency of its staff and the quality of the end product.

Other business services might include training or consultancy, which are geared to developing the soft skills of employees. These are important for enhancing the productivity of workers and for making them more valuable to their employers. These types of businesses usually hire specialized consultants or trainers to provide these services.

Another business service is IT consulting, which helps companies align their IT assets with the needs of their employees and customers. It may include auditing IT infrastructure, establishing an IT service catalog or creating an employee self-service portal. This helps to streamline processes, reduce costs and increase employee productivity.

In addition, companies need to maintain their facilities and equipment to ensure that they are functioning properly. For instance, a cleaning service might maintain the office’s cleanliness, while a pest control service might address any infestation problems that could harm employee health or lead to code violations. Similarly, companies require maintenance service professionals to repair appliances or technology.