A reference architecture can answer many of the most common questions for systems that need a particular design. They can be very helpful to software architects because they provide a tested solution to a problem domain, and reduce some of the complexities involved in designing a software architecture. Reference architectures are proven, in both technical as well as business contexts, as viable solutions for certain problems.
Using a reference architecture allows the team to deliver a solution quicker, and with fewer errors. Re-using an architecture provides advantages such as quicker delivery of a solution, reduced design effort, reduced costs, and increased quality.
Leveraging the experiences of past software applications and learning from them can be of great value to software architects. They help us to avoid making certain mistakes and can prevent costly delays that may result from not using a previously proven approach.