What is a service industry?

Whether caring for patients, routing power, or educating the next generation, service industries carry enormous responsibility. They need tools that help them move fast, stay accurate, and put people first.

Service industries definition

Service industries can be defined as the tertiary sector of the economy – meaning businesses that deliver value through services rather than goods. They rely on people, systems, and expertise to meet needs, solve problems, or enhance experiences. Instead of manufacturing products, they perform specialized tasks that support consumers, organizations, and other sectors. In developed nations, service industries often comprise the bulk of their GDP.

Service industries run on people – frontline, back office, and beyond

Spanning public and private sectors, service industries operate in fast-moving, high-pressure environments. Whether serving customers or supporting staff, success depends on coordinated teams, flexible workflows, and technology that helps them deliver more with less.

Hospitality

The hospitality industry aims to deliver great guest experiences across hotels, resorts, restaurants, and event venues. Operators must manage staffing, costs, and changing expectations while keeping services smooth, coordinated, and consistently welcoming.

Hospitality industry

Healthcare

Healthcare organizations face high-stakes expectations for clinical care, support services, and essential infrastructure. In the face of workforce shortages and evolving regulations, they strive to improve outcomes and coordinate teams across facilities.

Professional services

Professional services firms offer expertise across law, consulting, accounting, and much more. Success depends on managing client work with precision. This means balancing margins, timelines, and talent – and scaling operations without sacrificing quality.

Professional services industry

Public sector

Public sector agencies have a complex remit across diverse communities with varying needs. They manage public programs, infrastructure, and policy under tight budgets and scrutiny – tackling red tape and delivering essential, transparent services.

Utilities

Utilities companies maintain aging infrastructure and field operations to deliver the electricity, water, and gas that we all depend on. They face weather events, evolving regulations, and the pressure to ensure uptime and plan for future demand.

Utilities industry

K-12 education

K–12 education systems support students, teachers, and families across schools and districts. Leaders are entrusted to ensure safe, effective learning environments while also juggling shifting standards, limited funding, and staffing gaps.

Financial services

Financial services firms manage everything from investments and lending to insurance, corporate transactions, and more. They must stay ahead of fraud, regulations, and client demands to ensure that every interaction is secure and timely.

Financial services industry

Transportation

The transportation industry coordinates the movement of people and goods by road, rail, air, and sea. Providers must ensure safety, compliance, and efficiency as they manage tight delivery windows, route planning, and fleet operations across time zones.

Entertainment

Entertainment companies handle the creation, licensing, and distribution of global content. As formats and platforms evolve, teams are trusted to manage rights, royalties, and creative assets with the flexibility needed to adapt to changing markets.

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