A business service is an activity that helps a company without providing any physical products. It is a type of support that benefits the company in various ways such as cost reduction, improved efficiency and enhanced productivity. Some examples of business services include information technology (IT), marketing, accounting and business consulting. These activities are essential to the smooth functioning of a business. Companies can outsource these services to save on resources and expenses.

The business services page in ServiceNow displays a list of all the business, IT and device services that are available to you. Each service record contains basic information about the service such as its name, description, availability, risk and health metrics. You can also add lookup data directly to the record such as its tier 1 assignment group, escalation support groups and more. The service map refreshes automatically to reflect changes in the CMDB.

When you create a business service, it automatically becomes part of the CI class and enables you to view the relationship between this service and all other related CIs. This allows you to view the entire relationship between these CIs, which can help you identify dependencies and potential issues in your environment. In addition, you can assign a Business Service Manager to manage and maintain the business service model.

One of the main differences between business service and product businesses is that a service business’s success depends on its ability to meet customer needs and expectations. This requires a different set of skills, tools and techniques to manage than a product business. In fact, a successful service business is built around four critical elements:

For example, if a company offers television repair services, it must be able to provide its customers with a convenient way to have their TVs fixed. This could mean going to the customer’s home or letting the TV be brought to the repair shop. The latter option may not be as convenient for customers but it gives the company a competitive advantage.

A company might also hire animal control and pest extermination services to handle occasional infestations of animals or bugs that could threaten the safety of employees. Other types of business services include child care and utility service providers that supply water, electricity and gas to workplaces.

Many organizations outsource their business services in order to save on costs and improve efficiency. Outsourcing can also allow a company to focus its energy and resources on the core aspects of their business, which are most important for maintaining growth. It is also a good way to reduce risks and free up valuable resources, which can be used for other purposes such as investing in new technologies or expanding into other markets. The key to outsourcing successfully is to select a service provider that is capable of delivering quality work and a competitive price. A thorough analysis of the current and future market and competitors is crucial to making the right decision.