Business services are various tasks and activities that help maintain a business despite not delivering any tangible product. They include activities related to banking, transportation, warehousing, insurance, communication, etc.

The business service sector is an important part of the economy, providing jobs to over 11% of the EU population. While it is less known than other sectors, it is rapidly expanding and playing a key role in the ‘serviceitisation’ of the European economy.

Unlike physical products, business services cannot be stored as inventory, and they need to be delivered immediately when the demand arises. This makes it difficult to estimate and monitor the availability of business services, and to plan for future demands. In addition, business service management (BSM) is difficult due to the intangibility and inconsistency of services.

The emergence of new technologies and the need to create more value in products is driving the growth of business services. They are also being used to enhance existing products and to support new combinations of goods and services.

The variety of industries in which businesses use business services means that there is a wide range of career paths available to those with the right skills. In some cases, a high school diploma or GED certificate is enough to start a career in this sector, but in others, a bachelor’s or master’s degree is required. Many of these roles are also increasingly available as virtual work, which is a great option for people who don’t want to commute or need a flexible schedule.