The business services industry accounts for about 11% of EU GDP and contributes greatly to European competitiveness. It covers a broad range of activities from IT to facility management. It includes a growing number of value-added services that help businesses optimize their supply chains, such as sorting bulk goods into customized lots, labeling and light assembly. It also offers value-added storage services like picking and packing, stock control and inventory management, order processing, delivery tracking, packaging, markup pricing and warehousing.
Companies need a variety of business services. For example, a company that needs to renovate its office may hire construction service professionals to do the job. These professionals bring their own equipment and work efficiently, helping the organization save money. Similarly, a company that experiences an infestation of pests may hire a pest extermination service to handle the problem quickly and safely. Maintenance service professionals ensure that a company’s appliances and facilities function properly, while IT support staff help employees troubleshoot problems with computers or networks.
Some of these services can be offered virtually. For example, a virtual assistant can assist with administrative tasks such as scheduling meetings or keeping track of emails. Other purely virtual business services include janitorial or cleaning services, notary public services and transcription services. These services allow companies to focus on core operations without the need to have dedicated in-house staff. They can also reduce costs and improve productivity by enabling more flexible working arrangements and providing convenient access to expertise, even from remote locations.