What characteristic of services emphasizes that they cannot be stored for later use?

The characteristic of services that emphasizes they cannot be stored for later use is known as perishability. This means that services are time-sensitive and must be consumed as they are produced. For instance, a seat on a flight or a table at a restaurant cannot be saved for future use if they remain unoccupied at the designated time. Once the service period has ended, the opportunity to sell that service is lost forever. This aspect of perishability creates unique challenges for service providers, such as the need for effective demand management and strategies to optimize capacity.

In contrast, the other characteristics describe different aspects of services. Intangibility refers to the fact that services cannot be seen, touched, or possessed in the same way physical goods can. Inseparability indicates that services are produced and consumed simultaneously, which means the provider and the customer must be in the same place at the same time. Variability highlights the potential for services to differ from one service encounter to another due to factors like the service provider's performance and the client's participation. Thus, perishability is crucial for understanding the distinctive operational challenges faced by service-oriented businesses.