Business services are any industry that supports a company’s operations, infrastructure, and productivity. The sector includes industries that offer consulting, property maintenance, transportation, information technology and financial services among others. Companies use business-to-business (B2B) services to save money and time, improve their efficiency, and reach new customers.
B2B service providers typically work with a wide range of companies. For example, an IT support service company might work with many different software developers and hardware manufacturers. An in-house IT department may be more familiar with a specific company’s needs but doesn’t always have the resources to cover every aspect of the company’s technology infrastructure.
Other examples of B2B services include insurance, marketing and logistics. An insurance company might provide workers compensation to employees working on company computers, while a marketing agency could advertise a business to business conference for several different businesses. A logistical company might provide shipping and handling for a large company that orders equipment from multiple vendors.
Unlike goods, which can be produced or stored in inventory, services cannot be stockpiled or conserved. This is one of the reasons why successful B2B services require customer involvement and often involve a high degree of collaboration with other departments within a company.
A career in business services can be highly rewarding if you have the right skills and personality. However, this sector can also be stressful and fast-paced, so if you don’t thrive in this type of environment, it might not be the best fit for you.