Business services are activities that help a company but do not result in the production of a tangible product. They include information technology (IT), marketing and accounting, which are often outsourced to third-party providers. These specialized business services allow companies to focus on their core competencies without having to worry about creating and manufacturing physical products.

In addition to scalability and flexibility, many business services provide a variety of other benefits. These can include reducing costs, improving efficiency, and increasing employee productivity. They can also provide access to a wider range of customers and improve brand recognition. These benefits make business services attractive to both companies and consumers.

Some businesses offer a single service, such as consulting or IT support, while others specialize in multiple services. The most common type of business is the consulting firm, which provides advice and expertise to other companies. Other business services include advertising, human resources, and logistics. Companies that offer these types of business services are able to meet the needs of nearly any industry, regardless of size or location.

The business services industry is a vital part of the economy, and it contributes to job creation in all sectors. It also helps to foster innovation, and it is essential for economic growth and development. The sector has many challenges, however, including low labor productivity and persisting legal barriers to cross-border trade. The European Union is working to address these obstacles by removing barriers and encouraging business services exports.

There are five characteristics that define business services: intangibility, inseparability, support, scaleability and value proposition. Intangibility refers to the inability of business services to be physically touched or perceived. Inseparability refers to the inability of business services and other assets to be separated from each other. Support relates to the inability of a business service to function without the support of other services. Scalability is the ability of a business service to increase or decrease according to the needs of its customers. Finally, a business service’s value proposition is its ability to create a competitive advantage through the delivery of a unique and valuable experience.

SL1 supports multiple models for organizing and monitoring business services, including the Service Model. A Service Model defines how a set of Device Services work together to deliver a business service, such as a DNS plus Collector Group. It can also include supporting services, which are technical services that map to a business service and appear on the status dashboard when this business service is impacted.

To add a new business service, go to Services Business Services and click New Business Service. Enter a name for the service, and then select the Team that will be responsible for this service. You can also enable RCA for the service by checking the box. This will display the RCA options on the status dashboard when this business service is affected. For more information, see Checking Your Role and Changing Your User Permissions.