A stuffed giraffe named Joshie broke the internet — and taught a masterclass in client service.

When a three-year-old boy left his beloved stuffed giraffe, Joshie, behind at a Ritz-Carlton in Florida, the hotel could've done what any service-oriented company might: return the toy.

Instead, they gave Joshie a vacation of his own.

The giraffe came back in a box, safe and sound — accompanied by a photo album. Joshie lounging by the pool. Joshie driving a golf cart on the beach. Joshie getting a massage. The gesture went viral — not because it was a marketing stunt, but because it was business as usual for a company where service isn't a tactic. It's the culture.

And it works.

Related: We Have an Empathy Crisis on Our Hands. Here's How to Combat the Rising Trend of Poor Customer Service.

In a world where pricing can be matched and products copied, service is often the last true differentiator. But it's also where most businesses fall short.

Here's what the data tells us:

That's a problem — especially for service-based businesses where loyalty is earned through trust,........

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