EMEA Blade Server 2010-2014 Forecast and Analysis

This IDC study presents detailed data and analysis of the EMEA blade market over the course of 2009, both in terms of units and revenue. It also includes market positioning and updates concerning the blade strategies of selected vendors. Analysis of drivers and inhibitors of the blade server adoption in EMEA, as well as market forecast for the blade segment for 2009–2014 are also provided. In many respects, 2009 represented the worst year for the server market in EMEA since IDC records began, but despite a slowdown in their penetration, blade servers have managed to grow their overall share of server revenue for the eighth year in a row after their introduction in 2002, and are poised to be one of the product categories where recovery will be fastest over 2010. Approximately 338,000 server blades were sold in 2009 in EMEA, giving suppliers an overall factory value of $1.9 billion (1€.4 billion).

"As experienced vendors cross swords with new entrants in the blade market, we expect blades to steam forward at an 18% five-year CAGR in revenue through 2014, growing to account for 33% of the shipments and 28% of the overall server revenue by that year," said Giorgio Nebuloni, Senior Research Analyst with IDC European Systems and Infrastructure Solutions.