Standard Life's IT director, Keith Young, said that its use of SOA will be key in helping the company reach its financial targets. It has been especially useful since Standard Life floated as a public company in 2006.

Balancing the need to produce strong financial results in the short term with the need to invest in new applications to remain competitive places the SOA concept at the centre of Standard Life's IT strategy, he said.

"As a PLC, there is a focus on producing short term results, but IT continues to be a long term business investment for the company," said Young.