IBM has launched an information resource for firms using service-oriented architecture (SOA), to make it easier to search for and find reusable software components.

The IBM SOA Business Catalogue contains details of reusable components available from the vendor’s own software stack and from its range of qualified partners, including business intelligence vendor Cognos, BlackBerry maker Research in Motion and business rules specialist Ilog.

The resource lets firms search for data on code combinations, intellectual property and best practices that could solve specific business problems, according to IBM. It then points firms towards the appropriate software components, including process templates, web services, tools and adapters.

IBM said that the catalogue also provides advice on obtaining these services, and integrating them into the IT infrastructure.

The SOA catalogue is expected to contain more than 3,000 items by the end of the year, according to the vendor.

Sandy Carter, vice-president of WebSphere and SOA at IBM, said that the ability to locate and reuse software components, rather than having to develop them each time from scratch, would let firms deploy SOA technology at a lower cost.

Reusable IT services currently available in the catalogue include IBM Information Framework Process Models, which help financial services firms analyse business processes from a technical and business perspective; and the WebSphere Business Modeller, which helps firms model the impact of processes on their business.

The IBM SOA Business Catalogue can be accessed from next week.