An excellent example of a service is a professional cleaning service for residential homes or commercial properties. Here’s why it is considered a service:
- Intangible: Services are intangible, meaning they cannot be touched or held. In the case of a cleaning service, customers receive the benefit of a clean and organized space, but no physical product is involved.
- Performance-Based: Services are performance-based, depending on the skills, expertise, and efforts of the service provider. A cleaning service’s quality depends on the cleaning professionals’ thoroughness and attention to detail.
- Customer Interaction: Providing a service often involves direct customer interaction. In this example, the cleaning service interacts with homeowners or business owners to understand their cleaning needs and preferences.
- Customization: Services can be customized to meet individual customer requirements. A cleaning service can tailor its offerings to address specific cleaning preferences and cater to different types of properties.
- Time & Expertise: Customers often seek services when they lack the time, expertise, or resources to perform a task themselves. In the case of a cleaning service, people hire professionals to handle cleaning tasks efficiently and effectively.
- Delivery Process: Services are delivered through the expertise and efforts of service providers. The cleaning service provides value by using specialized cleaning techniques, equipment, and cleaning agents to achieve desirable outcomes.
- Satisfaction-Oriented: The success of a service is often measured by customer satisfaction. A cleaning service aims to satisfy customers with the cleanliness and organization of their living or working spaces.
Other examples of services include consulting, professional training, healthcare, transportation, and financial planning. Unlike tangible products, services center more on experiences, expertise, and customer satisfaction.