ITIL Service Portfolio - How It Fits With Service Strategy

One of the key aspects of the ITIL Service Strategy is keeping a well documented service portfolio. A service portfolio usually contains a detailed view of a service provider's history, along with its commitments and investments that it has gone through over the years.

A look at a service provider's portfolio and one would see a comprehensive description of the company's past and ongoing contractual obligations. It chronicles the services that they offered, the products that they are delivering in present companies, and it also notes the service provider's third party services.

With a service portfolio handy, the company can wisely choose which services can fit their busines organization better. A service portfolio can testfiy to the power and reliability of a service provider, as it also helps in improving the allocation of their resources.

A company's service portfolio is an effective way on getting a client's attention and interest. That's why it is necessary that it contains a clear and precise look of the company. It should provide the client an accurate explanation of the various process used and the cost that it might incur in the service operation.

A service portfolio contains three phases: -

- Service Catalogue

A service catalogue contains the services that the company presently offers in their business. It details comprehensive service solutions that can be easily modified for a new customer.


- Service Pipeline

The service pipeline consists of future services that are currently in development by the service provider. It helps the client realize the growth and the direction of the company with its listed future projects included in the service portfolio.


- Retired Services

These are the past services that the company has rendered. Retired services are classified as phased out services that are not available for clients, unless they make a special business case for themselves.