Business Products and Services
Find the examples, definitions, and comparisons of products and services that support the key functions of your business. Browse Investopedia’s expert written library to learn about software, resources, equipment, and more.
Products and Services
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While both companies have overlapping business models and markets, UPS specializes in domestic ground package delivery and FedEx specializes in rapid, time-sensitive international air freight.
Learn More UPS vs. FedEx: What's the Difference? -
Competitive intelligence involves researching and understanding a business’s industry and primary competitors while business intelligence entails software programs and applications that aid in strategic planning for a business.
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To calculate EBITDA margin you simply need to add together the earnings before interest and taxes from the income statement to the depreciation and amortization from the statement of operating cash flows. Then, you can divide the EBITDA by the period’s revenue to arrive at the EBITDA margin percentage.
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The IOT refers to the totality of internet-enabled devices, connecting through wifi, Bluetooth, data plans, or near-field communications, such as computers, mobile devices, wearable technologies, and smart appliances like thermostats, home security systems, and refrigerators.
Learn More The Internet of Things (IoT): An Overview
Key Terms
- Electronic Retailing (E-tailing)
Electronic retailing involves the sale of goods or services through online channels such as websites or mobile applications. E-tailing can occur between businesses, between two parties of consumers, or from businesses to consumers.
- Business Intelligence
Business intelligence, or BI, entails the use of specialized analytical tools, software, and applications to monitor and study the metrics of businesses and their industry to aid in strategic business management decisions.
- Customer Relationship Management - CRM
Customer Relationship Management involves the methodology employed by businesses to manage all interactions with their customers. Formal CRM processes guide sales, forecasting, and analysis of customer trends in order to optimize customer experience and sales performance.
- Click-Through Rate (CTR)
The click-through rate refers to the percentage of website visitors who click on an online advertisement, who are then transferred to the advertiser's website or sales landing page. The higher the click-through rate the more effective an online advertisement is considered to be based on a cost-per-click metric.
- Proprietary Technology
Proprietary technology is a system, software, application, or tool protected by intellectual property laws that has been developed exclusively in-house within an enterprise or purchased from another company or individual that grants the enterprise the rights to that technology. Proprietary technologies can be licensed to other businesses or used for competitive advantage to the enterprise that owns the technology.
- Electronic Meeting System (EMS)
An electronic meeting system is a software-enabled application that facilitates video and audio conferencing over the internet among far-flung individuals within a company or among any group of individuals needing to communicate and collaborate online. Electronic meeting systems such as Zoom, Microsoft Meeting, and Webex greatly aided corporate operations to move toward remote work during the global pandemic and evolving hybrid work models moving forward.
![Cropped hand of customer tapping smartphone on point-of-sale (POS) system in coffee shop](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/6FuOXj1qUSvkwX1QD_JMQjaOIn0=/7255x4839/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-1461177104-babcf3b54e8d4960ba074bc481064ab4.jpg)
![Close-up rear view of a young man coding on multiple computers](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/YMXdvFUkbvs95o--1kk1j-lS3U8=/8011x5364/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-1436215815-943d5c6bfe934a94ac54786c8d316548.jpg)
![View from behind of a person typing on a computer using ChatGPT](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/rQLZXaZmHEGllmHWiJUANA1elXg=/5472x3648/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-1246765443-418763aa3a7f4a059c29940b2d14779d.jpg)
![A smartphone with the Amazon Seller app displayed on the screen](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/pigUtqYPL26RpEFinqo1SDLzo-U=/5000x3036/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-1010024662-a7e70dc3b6a549d79a91a70c9054f3ab.jpg)
![A boutique shop owner shows a customer some jeans.](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/TYDtKnIwysXFxWq_-c2z2tKSN0o=/5500x3667/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/boutiqueshopowner-75fad756119c4ceebf6df3f5f6e483d8.jpg)
![](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/0_Sud1D07_LYP8_6aZ16LzvPiMY=/680x440/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/shutterstock_112522391-5bfc2b9846e0fb0051bde2d3.jpg)
![Large Language Model (LLM)](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/rMIT23Bmk46nyDVm7Sgz9jTfbhA=/4000x2700/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/large-language-model-7563532-final-9e350e9fa02d4685887aa061af7a2de2.png)
![Close-up of a phone that someone is holding with the TikTok app being shown in the App Store](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/GpKnas2aQMU4Ba2Mt4p4VxqRHnk=/5651x3767/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-1227952189-3060cf7075f14ee69ebfa3dfed61d926.jpg)
![Computer engineer at workstation in office that is full of displays showing 3D representations of neural networks](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/FDtkSKXQUC8fbxi7V-UUnVfQ54c=/3383x1903/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-1182697690-a64eb3dda4df4432b01ea931dfce5b3e.jpg)
![Businesswoman closing a deal with clients.](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/M5nsTTsAnxSTTsVL6KleM6PA4b8=/7008x4672/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-1460296966-ff7806e0881f4e46b51340fbda084ff1.jpg)
![Sam Altman CEO of OpenAI, sitting on a podium with OpenAI sign behind him](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/nmkj9VFP8r0YwY-4X9O-nyPIotg=/4500x3001/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-1258550313-736bdf97764342679ad2317a3d40bb8a.jpg)
![Augmented Reality](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/uklQ9ApBo5Rta4YAvFcLj9-Re0I=/1500x1000/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/augmented-reality.asp_sourcefile-e00b4d086d1a41dda39cfa2e9f7aa11b.jpg)
![Web 3.0](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/eiOoK-v7Vf5pEJaO_K7B9_U0NFY=/1500x1000/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/web_definition_final_0823-dbe6dbcd450c498e896b884a6ff3d885.jpg)
![Internet Service Provider](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/hhkijO7thtCu0nVmII_pzUCoUv4=/1500x1000/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/isp.asp-edit-bba11bd375f54353b6cfcceb88f8bd49.jpg)
![A woman walks down the street looking at a tablet in her hands](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/_3tJexc0SOTknO4HxG4Jxqy14lo=/8192x5464/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/bestrentalpropertysoftware-e8fbda07253f400f923abab3dadd3004.jpg)
![HyperText Markup Language (HTML): The basic scripting language used by web browsers to render pages on the World Wide Web.](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/Wf_ntW6W8RNw4ctzsYha4QT-PSQ=/1500x1000/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/html.asp-final-86da30eff12f46f3a1394efb0b137103.png)
![Two young women having a discussion in a business about background checks](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/yQuWBhozISX8nj3esshUGlxIoFo=/1500x1001/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Primary-Image-best-background-check-sites-5114387-336680521d7043938e52c7ce6a4a1cd2.jpg)
![Personally Identifiable Information (PII)](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/pcM0BFhQpGkiPYnkukb8zmEVdus=/4000x2700/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Personally-identifiable-information-pii_final-f413d282a7b74142b147720a77811659.png)
![File Transfer Protocol (FTP): The transfer of files between devices over a network.](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/c-1Xa0I2SxFpblrx9YTKSWPnxM8=/4000x2700/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/terms_f_ftp-file-transfer-protocol_FINAL-d9b2ee7e0fe34859b6be843034e500eb.jpg)
![Video Conferencing](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/mCGPy5As5xACw1y_A4fnYsx_6v4=/4000x2700/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/video-conferencing-FINAL-8bc4ed1ae67e4f4e9e8018d829d5fa0a.png)
![Electronic Retailing (e-Tailing)](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/0eWxy-didVnUIzutpCGCT06cEik=/4000x2700/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/electronic-retailing-e-tailing.asp_FINAL-20dec7584b904f538c6238be851d2ef5.png)
![Android Operating System: A mobile operating system developed by Google primarily for touchscreen devices, such as cell phones and tablets.](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/Fw7IgDWLV-k_oGscWHgm8F4-3LU=/4000x2700/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/android-operating-system.asp-FINAL-1-c12843198aaf4c249672f8dbbb28a0ab.png)
![Best POS Systems for Small Businesses](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/H86VgPSMREuOlAiX7q5F4eS4ezc=/2121x1414/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-1354968155-049ae74366454d5fb8a6d146f7119b49.jpg)
![Business Intelligence (BI): The technical infrastructure that collects, stores, and analyzes company data.](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/fMBgCui9yvwN2WbtM3q4PUB0slk=/4000x2700/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/business-intelligence-bi.asp-Final-96640b2a1f8d43f7803afb193b675f1a.jpg)
![Customer Relationship Management: The principles, practices, and guidelines an organization follows when interacting with its customers.](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/5PAXjRsCbWQXCWgWWSCh2b3RdxU=/4000x2700/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/customer_relation_management.asp-final-a6b5aa33bf034f64a793ac97834cd669.jpg)
![Interactive Media: A method of communication in which a program's outputs depend on the user's input.](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/AoNOw0AyeFnqHM_-WHfraJZBQ7U=/4000x2700/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/interactive-media.asp-final-576ed45ee5bb435d90bead75e69cd383.jpg)
![Big Data](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/cg4n764yVbrfGNSKkofP2UfFhjE=/4000x2700/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/big-data.asp_final-d2382542261e4dafa0a1faa05ea2fcce.png)
![Cargo Aircrafts From UPS, Fedex and West](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/1xnrKm1WiOEPTD6wFU27IhLNYMM=/1500x989/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-98527327-41c5051f33ce4d5e892ebf6cc37e022d.jpg)
![Software as a Service (SaaS)](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/tYTtSVBpFuTIZs0DOQfTSkKV0PQ=/4000x2700/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Software-as-a-service-saas_final-5caef210a00b48f5ac5de4964f72a016.png)
![Credit Card Processing Companies](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/TogA9hdUoWYpsctUk8cfnfJfKMo=/6720x4480/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-652722160-2a1cbe4f84e54fcfba43d78e02a7fd1a.jpg)
![Best Virtual Personal Assistants](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/HvZdoqX9gCmtXYKH7Jh3cSJOuXs=/2121x1414/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-492644805-3c7f317abf0c4bf29798d2da128f4d75.jpg)
![](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/0_Sud1D07_LYP8_6aZ16LzvPiMY=/680x440/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/shutterstock_112522391-5bfc2b9846e0fb0051bde2d3.jpg)
![The Internet of Things](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/eWF9tewe1vMIR0KYz8x_CdMGy0c=/1183x887/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/500434701-57a510a63df78cf4596b8ad4.jpg)
![](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/ULquNPRbyFZ1_M2y-xbV8eJMhWI=/380x254/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/78036503-5bfc2b8b4cedfd0026c118ed.jpg)
![A man in empty subway train, using laptop.](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/LJLG3BkOvQGNAk0SIcE4kQDr1ps=/2121x1414/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-73979822-ab188fa4755643d58c74fa3d4b933f18.jpg)
![EBITDA](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/xjioJPhCW3DEiNIeDRiGzlPpEnY=/1620x1080/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/writing-white-pen-macro-office-business-1017595-pxhere.com-6d1d3d17dab149a0a68d8343444d6605.jpg)
![](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/TzggaeUk85a8Bpa7X8YX44QcWFA=/205x136/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/investing14-5bfc2b8f46e0fb00265beb22.jpg)
![Cityscape at night with digitally imposed streaks of blue light weaving throughout](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/WFfzzd6Fhh_VRNkRvTv_RMDy-Gg=/2119x1414/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-529167433-382c2045ef8d4e4a84f37c96f50f8d7e.jpg)
![](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/0_Sud1D07_LYP8_6aZ16LzvPiMY=/680x440/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/shutterstock_112522391-5bfc2b9846e0fb0051bde2d3.jpg)
![A businesswomen using mobile phone analyzing data and economic growth graph chart.](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/Fa0wZF7NLcm0NVyRlkRC_oig0VY=/2120x1414/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-1159017873-328f614e43004e978b09575a5315a55b.jpg)
![Woman Working at a Coffee Shop With a Laptop](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/CQOgLgYioGVc7IVbJlir9oNU_7Q=/1500x1001/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-1130519249-cd3de327eeaf47f1844a1ad97e23597b.jpg)
![A bike shop owner shifts the front wheel of a display bicycle that is suspended from the ceiling of a narrow store overflowing with new bicycles.](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/J4qudbVQVeJBUP6uM8S-OQzIbhk=/5118x3416/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-658078463-03b24dbf43424b0aa2a832c46c28e324.jpg)
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