Vertical Industries Each industry (e.g., transportation, mining, IT and so on) is said to be a vertical. Some services are common to all or most industries (see Horizontal Services), whereas other services are specific to each vertical industry (e.g., claims processing in insurance, surveying and assaying in mining, and so on). Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO) An international development charity that works through volunteers. Rather than offering instant relief in the form of food or money, VSO sends people to share their skills and experience with local communities in the developing world. These volunteers are chosen from a wide range of professionals who are looking for the chance to make a real difference in the fight against poverty. Through Accenture’s partnership with VSO, employees can take an unpaid leave of absence to make a similar community or business impact.