Business services are activities that support a business and do not deliver a tangible good. They include work in areas such as IT, procurement and shipping.

Providing services can be a great career path for those who are willing to do the work, and aren’t limited to one specific area of expertise. It’s also a growing industry, offering more job options and stability than some other fields, says Spinelli.

The success of a service company depends on the way in which it designs its offerings and manages its people, just as with product businesses. But managers in service environments must also be aware of the ways in which customers influence the costs and quality of the products they purchase.

A successful business service will design its offering with customers’ needs and preferences in mind. It will also understand the customer’s experience with the product and how that experience can be improved.

Another important part of service design is the way in which employees work with customers. Employees can affect the cost and quality of the service based on how well they are trained, how well they communicate with customers, and how responsive they are to their needs.

Many service businesses rely on external agencies to provide training for their employees. These agencies can provide services such as employee development, employee wellness programs and safety education. They may also offer other services such as legal, accounting or marketing help. Depending on the size of the company, they may even offer employee benefits such as insurance and health care.