Berlin has established itself as an important European hub for the services industries.

BASF opened its European Shared Service Center (ESSC) in the Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg district of Berlin, where now about 1200 employees provide services in the fields of finance and accounting. Deutsche Bank has built an International Risk Management Center with about 700 employees in Charlottenburg. Mercedes Bank, the financial subsidiary of Daimler, chose the central district of Berlin-Mitte for its new Service Center, as did the US online merchant Amazon for its new customer service center.

Why Berlin?

„Berlin has reinvented itself again and again and is increasingly taking on a central role in the global economy. The German capital is not only a center of the creative sector, the arts, politics and media. Its particular strengths also include business sectors like IT, life sciences and services. Furthermore, Berlin is committed to establishing itself as a leading production site for cutting edge products - for example in the fields of energy and medical technology.“

Wolfgang WagnerMember of the Board of PwC

Berlin offers the following advantages

Market potential

Berlin offers a large local market with 3.4 million consumers.
Services make up Berlin's largest economic sector with the highest proportion of start-ups and enterprises locating to the city.
In 2013, the Berlin service industry accounted for approximately 84% of the overall economic output. 88% of all workers were employed in the service sector.
The communications, consulting and services sectors are experiencing vigorous growth.
Berlin's information and technology sector is creating demand for new types of services.
The number of guests and overnight stays in the tourism sector is also increasing.
A large pool of qualified management talent and trained specialists is available to employers.
Numerous research institutions promote an innovative climate.
40 percent of the population is younger than 35 years of age.

Berlin offers optimal opportunities for:

Decision-making headquarters, administrative headquarters, European headquarters;
Company representative offices, Berlin offices;
Services for companies and institutions (B2B);
Businesses in the trade fairs and event management sector;
Advertising, public relations and marketing;
Service centers (call centers, shared service centers, customer care centers, contact centers);
Security and guard services;
Institutions providing training and development to professionals;
Associations.

(Sources include: Senate for Economics, Technology and Research, 2015)

Large services companies in Berlin

Berlin's importance as the headquarters for companies with global operations is growing. An address in Germany's capital lends prestige. More and more "global players" are establishing locations for their service companies in Berlin.