BCS Consultancy, a world information centre consultancy, has launched its newest report, Information Centre Truths 2026: What it takes to ship in 2026. Drawing on insights from over 3,000 respondents throughout 41 nations, the report offers an in depth evaluation of the components at the moment shaping the European information centre market.
Demand throughout Europe stays robust, with 93% of members anticipating progress over the subsequent yr and 78% reporting elevated demand pushed by AI prior to now 12 months. The principle problem is now not market enlargement, however figuring out the place and the way capability may be delivered. Energy availability, expertise shortages, planning complexity, provide chain points, and AI readiness are more and more affecting tasks.
“Europe’s information centre market just isn’t slowing down, however supply is turning into much more uneven,” stated James Hart, CEO of BCS Consultancy. “For the primary time, securing energy and planning approval is now not sufficient. In 2026, these are simply entry tickets. Stress round energy, floorspace and rack density continues to form how shortly AI demand may be transformed into deployable capability.”
Key Findings:
- Supply capability, not demand, is the first constraint, with 95% of respondents anticipating additional declines in expert professionals.
- Abilities shortages are inflicting business impacts, together with missed deadlines, rising prices, and misplaced alternatives.
- AI-driven demand is rising, however solely 20% of amenities are thought-about AI-ready, revealing a spot between ambition and deployable capability.
- Geopolitical components are driving curiosity in renewable power, with 70% of respondents prioritising sustainability, power safety, and neighborhood affect in website choice.
The report offers region-specific insights throughout the UK, DACH, Italy, the Nordics, Iberia, and France, exhibiting how supply constraints differ geographically. Native execution capabilities are rising as important, with areas dealing with diversified challenges associated to energy entry, expertise, and regulatory necessities.
Hart emphasised that “supply danger is now not theoretical.” The report contains sensible insights from BCS leaders engaged on reside European tasks, providing steerage for operators, builders, traders, and policymakers navigating at this time’s complicated information centre panorama.
