App note from Macronix on how SFDP help easily use serial flash. Link here (PDF)
Serial Flash Discoverable Parameter (SFDP) standard provides a consistent method of describing the functional and feature capabilities of Serial Flash devices in a standard set of internal parameter tables. These parameter tables can be interrogated by host system software to enable adjustments needed to accommodate divergent features from multiple vendors.
SFDP provides more flexibility in vendor selection; reduces engineering resources for firmware upgrades and effectively shortens the time to bring product to the market. The value of SFDP mirrors that of Common Flash Interface (CFI) for Parallel Flash. The software engineers have been asking for a standard like this since the increased adoption of Serial Flash.