Business services are a huge industry and a large part of every business. In many countries, the service economy is a significant contributor to GDP, making it essential for economies around the world to function properly. Companies that offer these services can help businesses save time and money by taking on work that the company does not have the expertise or equipment to do itself.
These activities may include delivery services, cleaning and waste management. They also may include human resources, accounting and marketing services. They can also include computer infrastructure, telecommunications, software development, and management services.
A successful service business requires a different approach to management than product companies. Managers must shift their perspectives from the attributes of the product to the experience customers want to have. This new perspective calls for a different design process that starts with understanding the customer and ends with crafting the service to meet their needs and desires.
Service designers often focus on four critical areas:
Customers have different expectations about the quality of a service, including convenience, reliability and friendly interaction. Unlike products, which can be stored and sold at a later date, services must be produced at the same time they are consumed. This makes it important for service providers to understand the demands and expectations of their customers and to continuously improve their service.
In addition, service providers must be aware of the limitations of their own capabilities. They must know when they need to hire outside experts for a particular task or when it is best to partner with another service provider.