End of an era, but not all that surprising in the end. For years they experimented with different audiences, but didn't really find a profile that was relevant anymore.
Finding out about new products or companies doesn't require a trade show anymore. They went to focus on the business side anyways so no private visitors anymore (until the turn-around attempt this year) and other places took up that market. But the business market also has its own events now, both smaller, more specialized ones and ones run by the large companies. Way fewer small (or even large) companies where you can talk to people actually involved with the product developments, which was something you could do in the beginning. Again, no need to travel to CEBIT to talk to marketing.
It's fulfilled its purpose when it was needed, now it has been replaced.
Finding out about new products or companies doesn't require a trade show anymore. They went to focus on the business side anyways so no private visitors anymore (until the turn-around attempt this year) and other places took up that market. But the business market also has its own events now, both smaller, more specialized ones and ones run by the large companies. Way fewer small (or even large) companies where you can talk to people actually involved with the product developments, which was something you could do in the beginning. Again, no need to travel to CEBIT to talk to marketing.
It's fulfilled its purpose when it was needed, now it has been replaced.