Azul sees 63% rise in Java platform bookings globally

Azul has reported a 63% year-over-year increase in new customer bookings, driven by growing demand for high-performance Java platforms and cost-effective Java solutions.

The company attributes a portion of its success to substantial growth in both the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and Asia-Pacific (APAC) regions, where new customer bookings rose by 111% and 80% respectively. This trend reflects a broader industry preference for open source solutions as enterprises seek alternatives to Oracle Java due to cost considerations, a preference for open source, and Oracle's sales tactics. According to Azul's 2025 State of Java Survey & Report, 88% of over 2,000 Java professionals consulted are contemplating a shift from Oracle Java.

Azul's performance has been supported by its flagship products, Platform Prime and Platform Core, which cater to the needs of businesses looking to update their Java operations while enhancing performance and managing expenses efficiently. The company's strategic focus includes assisting enterprises in countering escalating cloud costs and migrating from Oracle's pricing models.

Significant developments over the past year include new product releases and enhancements intended to elevate performance, security, and value. Among these is Azul's Intelligence Cloud which, announced in April 2024, now backs Oracle JDK and all OpenJDK-based JVMs across vendors, aiming to resolve pervasive DevOps challenges such as alert fatigue from false positives and technical debt from obsolete code.

Further highlights include the adoption of Azul's Platform Core by Newcastle City Council, which effectively tackled 80% of the council's Java-based IT security vulnerabilities. Additionally, Platform Prime was shown to outperform other OpenJDK distributions by an average of 37% as per an announcement in October 2024. Azul also launched a Java Performance Engineering Lab and extended its solutions to support compliance with financial regulations like DORA.

A string of industry accolades marked the year for Azul, among them "Cloud Infrastructure Solution of the Year" at the 2024 Tech Ascension Awards and multiple honours at the Stevie Awards. The company's Innovations in Business Technology and DevOps offerings received notable recognition, underscoring its contributions to the Java landscape.

Azul also initiated its first Java Hero Awards, celebrating 17 global organisations and teams for exemplary uses of Java that successfully advanced their operational goals. The company further enhanced its channel programme, enlisting 15 new strategic partners across diverse regions and expanding its Paris offices to manage partnerships in several European countries.

New customer transactions through channel partners increased by 79% year-over-year, spurred by a growing appetite for licensing, IT Asset Management (ITAM) services, and advisory support in shifting away from Oracle Java. The introduction of Platform Core and Platform Prime on AWS and Google Cloud Marketplaces aims to streamline the software procurement process for Azul's customers.

Scott Sellers, co-founder and CEO of Azul, commented, "Rising cloud infrastructure costs and enterprise migrations away from Oracle Java fueled our momentum this past year as organisations prioritise cost-efficient, scalable and secure Java solutions. We are deeply committed to our customers' success, providing best-in-class solutions for Java estates in an increasingly complex IT landscape."