Business services are those that support business enterprises in their activities without resulting in the production of tangible products. They include a wide variety of non-physical services such as accounting, software, event planning, marketing, communication and insurance services, among others. Business service providers typically have a strong understanding of the customer’s business goals and can offer customized solutions to meet those needs.

The Business Services Directive aims to reduce barriers and promote competitiveness in the business services sector by allowing companies from one EU country to offer their services in another. Its objectives are to stimulate the creation of new jobs in the industry and reduce its reliance on imports, while also providing consumers with greater choice and flexibility.

Unlike economic services, which are based on the flow of goods and capital from one party to another, business services provide value in the form of information, advice or expertise. They may be performed in-house by the business or outsourced to third parties. In addition to traditional services such as accounting, marketing and consulting, they can include specialized functions such as warehousing, packaging and distribution.

These services are designed to help businesses manage their day-to-day operations and become more efficient. They can include a wide range of activities including planning, engineering and design; procurement; property acquisition; material management and inventory control; construction management; and monitoring and inspection.

While some business services are provided by government agencies, such as land and water rights management, most are privately owned and managed. They are a key component of the economy and are growing in importance, particularly as more and more countries embrace globalization and open up their markets to international competition. As a result, they are increasingly being outsourced to third parties.

To be effective, business services must be able to adapt to changing technologies, market conditions and customer demands. This requires visibility into IT assets across hybrid infrastructure, and insight into how those assets work together to deliver a business outcome. Business service mapping is a process that helps connect these assets and create a cohesive view of business services.

Mapping business services is a complex task that involves collaboration between different teams and departments. If a detailed scope, project and process plan is not in place, miscommunications and misunderstandings can result in inaccurate mapping. This can impact the overall success of a business service map and the ability to monitor and track change across all layers of the hybrid architecture.

When creating a business service, the following information should be included: Name. A unique name that identifies the service. Description. A brief description of the service. RCA Options. Indicates whether Root Cause Analysis is enabled for the service. Default Priority. Determines which business services display first on the Business Services page. To remove a service from this list, select the checkbox next to the service and then click Remove Services. In SL1, you can also select a service to display as the top priority on the Business Services page by clicking the Actions button () for that service and selecting Favorite.