
Some of the earliest attempts to define services focused on what makes them different from goods. Late-eighteenth and early-nineteenth century definitions highlighted the nature of ownership and wealth creation. Classical economists contended that goods were objects of value over which ownership rights could be established and exchanged. Ownership implied possession of a tangible object that had been acquired through purchase, barter or gift from the producer or previous owner and was legally identifiable as the property of the current owner. In contrast, when services were purchased, no title to goods changed hands.
Examine the intangibility of services, its perceptual gap before and after delivery, and how interior and exterior surroundings and peripheral attributes create tangible elements in some services.
Explore the inseparability of services, where production and consumption occur simultaneously, with customers shaping the selection and delivery process and frontline staff driving service quality in real time.
Perishability of services requires aligning supply and demand, since services cannot be stored or returned. Use demand forecasts, capacity utilization plans, and pricing to maximize profit with limited capacity.
Classify services by tangible versus intangible nature and by customer relationships. Compare formal, continuous services like banking and insurance with discrete and informal services such as theater and police protection.
Explore the seven p's of services marketing, from product design and pricing to promotions, place, and processes, with emphasis on people, physical evidence, and customer co-creation.
Define and measure service quality through reliability, responsiveness, assurance, empathy, and tangibility. Analyze the five gaps between expected and perceived services in the structural model.
Explore the five service quality dimensions—reliability, responsiveness, assurance, empathy, tangibility—and the five gaps, and learn how service excellence aligns expectations with delivery through pricing, promotion, people, and physical evidence.
Service disruptions are inevitable; implement an effective recovery system with qualified staff and a robust complaint-handling mechanism to enhance customer loyalty and use feedback to improve offerings.
Explore Siemens' people management through the forces framework: compensation, career development, content development, and culture, to drive training, right-people placement, retention, and global impact.
Showcases HSBC Bank's advanced automated processes and virtual banking for small and medium enterprises. Front-line teams use technology for most decisions, with humans handling strategic choices.
The objective of the Services Marketing course is to equip students with the skills and knowledge to develop and implement creative strategies for enhancing service offerings. This course emphasizes the role of innovation in improving customer experiences, service delivery processes, and value propositions. Students will learn how to integrate technology, customer-centric approaches, and sustainable practices to differentiate service brands and drive business growth. By exploring case studies, emerging trends, and real-world challenges, the course aims to foster a mindset of continuous improvement and adaptability, enabling students to create competitive advantages in the service sector.
The second objective of the Innovation in Services Marketing course is to foster an understanding of how innovation can transform traditional service models and lead to the development of unique customer experiences. Students will explore the use of advanced technologies, such as artificial intelligence, data analytics, and automation, to streamline operations and personalize services. Additionally, the course will emphasize the importance of co-creation with customers, encouraging students to actively involve customers in the innovation process. By the end of the course, students will be able to design innovative service solutions that not only meet but exceed customer expectations, thereby enhancing customer loyalty and long-term business success.
By applying these concepts, students will practice designing personalized marketing strategies, using tools like data analytics to predict customer needs, and co-developing new service solutions through customer engagement. This knowledge will empower them to drive innovation in various service industries, from healthcare to retail.
This course will enrich the participants with the knowledge of services marketing. They will understand the characteristics of Services classification of services; Consumer versus Industrial Services, Model of Service segmentation strategy, Global and Indian Scenario in services sector. The students will further understand :
7 Ps of Services Marketing Mix
Customer satisfaction strategies
Service Quality:
Importance of quality in Services;
How customers evaluate service performance,
Service Quality Models Parsuraman- Zeithamal- Bitner (PZB) Gaps Model, SERVQUAL ,
Technology & Service Strategy:
Applying technology to service settings,
e-services etc.,