Generally, organizational products comprise both goods and services. As depicted in the figure below, according to the goods-services continuum, products may possess either tangible characteristics, such as salt, or intangible characteristics, like teaching. Nevertheless, some products simultaneously offer both goods and services, as exemplified by aeroplane travel.
The placement of a product on the continuum allows marketers to identify potential opportunities. At the tangible (pure goods) end of the continuum, products are positioned that bear no relation to services. At the intangible (pure services) end, services are positioned that have no connection to physical products.
The central segment of the continuum comprises products that exhibit combined characteristics of both goods and services. For instance, goods like air-conditioners not only exist as products but also necessitate services such as installation and delivery.
All three positions involved in the goods-services continuum are described below:
1. Standalone Service Products
Consumers purchase these services because they provide specialized expertise. This expertise is often in the form of standalone services, such as psychoanalysis, typically offered by such providers. These human-centric services occupy the intangible end of the service continuum. The demand for such services is growing daily as individuals have less time for their everyday tasks.
Additionally, self-improvement services, such as spoken language classes or personal grooming courses, are emerging. In large cities, even services like professional dog walkers are gaining popularity. People are also hiring professionals to assist with legal issues, tax filings, or to repair their cars and electronic gadgets.
Manufacturing companies, once primarily engaged in offering products with only supplementary services, are now redefining their core competencies to provide standalone services. Depending on their areas of expertise, these firms are introducing new standalone services to the public.
Take IBM as an example. Initially known for manufacturing computer and hardware equipment, they now have four distinct business verticals: strategic outsourcing, business consulting, integrated technology services, and maintenance, each offered as a standalone service.
2. Service Products Bundled with Tangible Products
In this category, goods and services coalesce to form a comprehensive product. Restaurants and hotels, for instance, reside in the middle of the continuum as they utilize goods (such as high-end crockery) and services (like skilled staff). Other venue-based services, including museums, multiplexes, zoos, and amusement parks, incorporate the following three factors:
- Operational Factors: The effective application of various technologies is essential to ensure customer satisfaction. Clear instructions and directions should be provided to guide customers in using the service, potentially reducing wait times.
- Locational Factors: Certain services, like ATMs or dry cleaning, are commonly purchased services where location is crucial as they are offered at specific sites.
- Environmental Factors: These services, often provided at storefront locations, require a venue that is sufficiently attractive to draw in customers.
For instance, banks should present a polished, sophisticated environment, state-of-the-art technology, and swift services to cater to their customers.
3. Goods Dominated Products
These products, tangible in nature, are complemented by supportive services. For instance, companies often offer benefits such as a one-month warranty or toll-free services to enhance the product’s value.
The approach of pairing supportive services with the primary product is termed ’embodying.’ This concept is prevalent in the IT industry, where companies deploy this strategy to penetrate international markets saturated with low-cost products that lack adequate user guidance.