Service Catalogue looks at ways to:
- control demand,
- publish and track service pricing and cost,
- and automate service request management and fulfilment.
The service catalogue provides a clear view of what services IT provides and how IT adds value for the money allocated. It provides a method to request or order the services that are published. The Service Catalogue enables good governance in that the key terms, conditions, and controls defined in the Service Catalogue are integrated into the service delivery processes of the organisation. It enables an organization to better plan, deliver and support services while accurately costing and pricing services.
The Service Catalogue looks at common activities such as ordering of PC/desktop, telecommunication, collaboration, and support services, which can produce measurable results and assures consistent service pricing and quality. Service Catalogue also looks at ways to help reduce cycle time; implementing workflow can reduce the time it takes to fulfil services, saving numerous hours per request. Organizations can thus reallocate precious staff time to more strategic initiatives.
A 'Service Catalogue', as defined in the ITIL Service Delivery guidance, is a list of services that an organization provides, often to its employees or customers. Each service within the catalogue typically includes:
- A description of the service
- Timeframes or service level agreement for fulfilling the service
- Who is entitled to request/view the service
- Costs (if any)
- How to fulfil the service.