15 Inspiring Value Added Service Examples For All Businesses

Whenever we ask someone what they love most about their job, the answer is almost always the same: the people. The customers, clients, and coworkers make going to work each day worthwhile.

But what if your job didn’t come with built-in human interaction? What if you worked from home or in a cubicle far from the hustle and bustle of a traditional office?

In these cases, finding ways to add value for your customers and clients is even more essential. Value-added services are one way to do this.

We’ll give you some examples of value-added services below, but first, let’s define what they are.

What Is a Value-Added Service?

A value-added service (VAS) is a feature that enhances the customer experience without adding to the cost of the product or service.

In other words, it’s something extra that you provide that makes your customer’s life easier or better.

Value-added services can be physical, like free gift wrapping at a store. Or they can be digital, like an app that helps you track your order status.

They can be big or small, but they all have one thing in common: they provide value without increasing prices.

How Do Value-Added Services Work? 

Isn’t the whole point of a business to make money? How can you provide extra services without raising your prices?

The answer is simple: value-added services are usually provided to the business at little to no cost.

For example, let’s say you own a store that sells coffee beans. You could offer free grinding services as a value-added service. The grinder cost is minimal, and you’re already paying someone to man the register, so there’s no extra labor cost.

The customer, on the other hand, gets a convenience they wouldn’t have had otherwise. They save time by not having to grind the beans themselves, and they may be more likely to return to your store in the future.

It’s a win-win for both parties.

Value addition is not limited to the product or service itself. It can also extend to the way you do business.

For example, let’s say you own a car wash. You could offer a free vacuum with every wash. Or you could have a loyalty program where customers get their 10th wash free.

These are examples of ways you could add value for your customers without increasing the cost of your services.

Why Offer a Value-Added Service?

As a business owner, you’re always looking for ways to attract new customers and keep the ones you have.

Your Care About Your Customers

By offering extra services or features, you’re showing your customers that you care about their experience and their needs. This can go a long way in building customer loyalty.

It Shows That You’re Innovative

Value-added services can also help you stand out from the competition. If you’re the only car wash in town that offers a loyalty program, you’re more likely to get repeat business.

People are always looking for new and innovative ways to do things, so by offering value-added services, you’re showing that your business is keeping up with the times.

It Increases Customer Satisfaction

Offering extra services is also a great way to increase customer satisfaction. If your customers are happy, they will likely come back and recommend your business to others.

Your Revenue Will be Skyrocketing in No Time

There is one more important reason to offer value-added services: it can increase your bottom line.

Remember, you’re not increasing the cost of your product or service, so you’re essentially getting more bang for your buck.

Plus, happy customers are more likely to spend more money with you in the future.

Examples of Value Added Services

Additional Features or Functions

Which value-added services you offer will depend on the type of business you have. But there are some general categories that most companies can fit into.

You can offer extra features or functions as a value-added service if you sell physical products.

For examples:

• A clothing store – offers free hemming services.
• A furniture store – offers free delivery and assembly.
• A jewelry store – offers free cleaning and polishing.
• A pet store – offers free dog-walking services.

If you sell digital products, you can also provide extra features or functions.

For example:

• An e-book – offers a free audio version.
• A software program – that provides a free trial period.

Convenience

Having a convenient location is a value-added service in itself. But you can also offer extra services that make it even more suitable for your customers.

For example, you could offer:

• Delivery services
• In-store pickup
• Extended hours
• Online ordering

These services make it easier for your customers to do business with you. And the best part is, they don’t have to spend any extra money.

Personalization

People love feeling like they’re special, so offering personalized service is a great way to add value.

Almost 60% of people want personal promotions and offers when browsing your website.

Some ways you can offer personalized service include:

• Ask customers for their preferences when they sign up for your email list.
• Using customer data to create targeted marketing campaigns.
• Segment your email list so that customers only receive information that’s relevant to them.
• Sending handwritten notes or birthday cards to your best customers.

These are just a few examples of how you can personalize your service to create more value for your customers.

Customization

On a similar note, customization is another excellent way to add value.

When buying a car, we can choose the color, features, and upholstery. And when we order a shirt from a company like Bonobos, we can choose the fit, the style, and the fabric.

Customization allows customers to make a product their own, willing to pay more for it. In fact, 74% of consumers are willing to pay more for a product customized to their needs.

Customer Service Quality

Even some of the world’s biggest companies have prioritized customer service. Amazon, for example, is known for its exceptional customer service.

You can offer quality customer service in a number of ways, such as:

• Offering 24/7 customer support.
• Being available by phone, email, and live chat.
• Responding to customer inquiries quickly.
• Having a knowledgeable and friendly staff.
• Resolving customer complaints promptly to improve customer relationships.

These are just a few examples of how you can go above and beyond for your customers.

Offers Simplicity

Most people want things to be as simple and easy as possible. So if you can offer a service that simplifies their lives, you’re sure to win them over.

Traditionally, businesses have charged for their products and services. But now, some companies are starting to offer their products and services for free.

For example, T-Mobile offers free international roaming with their Simple Choice Plan. And Dropbox offers a free basic plan with 2 GB of storage.

You’re making things simpler for your customers by offering a free service. And they’ll appreciate that.

Unique Packaging and Design

It’s something we don’t usually think about, but a product’s packaging and design can add a lot of value.

In fact, according to a recent survey, packaging design influences 72% of consumer purchasing decisions in the United States.

That does not mean you need to spend much money on packaging. But it does mean that you should put some thought into it. Your product packaging should not be too stylish or too plain.

It should be just right.

And if you can make your packaging recyclable or eco-friendly, that’s even better.

Some things to consider:

• The materials you use
• The design of the packaging
• How eco-friendly the packaging is

Training and Education

How credible you are in your domain speaks a lot about your company’s value. Many companies offer free training or education to their customers and clients to add indirect economic value.

This could be in the form of:

• Online courses
• Webinars
• Tutorials
• E-books
• How-to guides

Consulting and Advisory

Not everyone knows how to do everything. And that’s where you come in.

If you’re an expert in your field, you can offer consulting or advisory services to your customers. This is a great way to add value because you’re helping them solve a problem that they may not be able to solve on their own.

Plus, they’ll be more likely to come back to you in the future if they need help with something else.

Setup and Installation

If you sell a product that needs to be installed or set up, you can offer this service to your customers. This is a great way to add value because it shows that you’re willing to go the extra mile to help them.

Also, it’s one less thing they have to worry about.

Warranties and Guarantees

Many people are skeptical about buying products online. They’re worried that they won’t be able to return the product if it’s not what they wanted.

So one way to ease their fear is to offer a warranty or guarantee. This way, they know they can return the product if they’re unhappy with it.

And if you offer a money-back guarantee, that’s far more valuable than a warranty.

Saving Time

Time is one of the most precious commodities we have. And people are always looking for ways to save time.

If you can offer a service that saves your customers time, you’re providing a valuable service.

Some ways you can save your customers time include:

• Offering online ordering
• Having a fast and easy checkout process
• Delivering products directly to your potential customers.

Product Diversity

You can offer a greater variety of products as a value-added service if you sell products. People want to have more choices.

For example, a clothing store can offer a wider variety of sizes, styles, and colors. A grocery store can offer more products, including organic and gluten-free options.

Company Image and Reputation

The image and reputation of your company are also essential values you can add.

People want to do business with reputable companies with a good image.

Some ways you can improve your company’s image and reputation include:

• Committing to social responsibility
• Being involved in your community
• Offering high-quality products and services
• Creating a positive customer experience

Free Gifts

Emotionally gifts are precious. People love getting them. And if you can offer a gift with purchase, you’re sure to win some loyal customers.

Gifts don’t have to be big or expensive. They can be something as simple as a free keychain with a purchase of $50 or more.

Final Thoughts

These value-added services or value-based marketing examples should give you a good idea of how to create customer loyal and give you a competitive advantage over the competition. Don’t be afraid to get creative with marketing efforts and think outside the box to develop services that will wow your prospective customers. It could be any type of value such as; functional value, social value, monetary value, and psychological value.

Remember, the goal is to make their lives easier and help them get the most out of your products or services with value-based marketing strategies. You can easily add significant value to your business with a little effort.