Azul sees 63% growth driven by demand for Java solutions

Azul, a Java-focused company, has announced a 63% year-over-year growth in new customer bookings for its fiscal year, driven by rising demand for high-performance Java platforms, cloud cost optimisation solutions, and alternatives to Oracle Java.

The company reported a significant year-over-year increase in new customer bookings within the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region at 111%, and an 80% increase in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. This growth highlights the enterprise desire for cost-effective and high-performance commercially supported Java solutions. Many organisations are moving away from Oracle's pricing and licensing structures in search of alternatives that can reduce cloud expenses.

Azul's growth is attributed to the market's preference for open-source solutions, as indicated in Azul's recent 2025 State of Java Survey & Report. This report found that 88% of over 2,000 Java professionals surveyed are considering, or are in the process of, shifting away from Oracle Java. The main reasons cited include the cost, open-source preference, and Oracle's sales tactics.

The expanded adoption of cloud services has led to increased focus on cloud performance and cost management, which are now primary concerns for executive-level decision-makers. This aligns with growing interest in DevOps productivity within the enterprise, creating favourable conditions for Azul's Platform Prime and Platform Core solutions.

Scott Sellers, co-founder and CEO of Azul, noted: "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."

Azul has continued to innovate in Java technology by releasing new products and features designed to enhance performance, security, and value for its customers. These include its cloud analytics solution Intelligence Cloud that supports Oracle JDK and any OpenJDK-based JVM. The company also introduced its Java Performance Engineering Lab and announced support for financial institutions aiming to comply with DORA requirements.

Azul's Platform Prime is claimed to outperform other OpenJDK distributions by an average of 37%. Newcastle City Council reported significant security improvements after implementing Azul's Platform Core, addressing Java-based application vulnerabilities and reducing the organisation's IT security vulnerabilities by 80%.

Throughout the year, Azul's technology and product portfolio received multiple accolades. Notably, Platform Prime was awarded by various bodies including the Tech Ascension Awards and several Stevie Awards, as well as recognition for DevOps analytics in InfoWorld's 2024 Technology of the Year awards.

New strategic partnerships were established in regions such as Australia, the Middle East, South Africa, and India, aiding the expansion of Azul's channel programme. This led to a 79% year-over-year increase in customers conducting business through Azul's channel partners.

Azul's presence in Paris was expanded to manage partnerships in France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, and Spain. The company began offering its main products, Platform Core and Platform Prime, on the AWS and Google Cloud Marketplaces, aiming to facilitate cloud commitment and simplify the procurement process for its customers.