In 1911, the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company (C-T-R) was established in Endicott, New York, through the merger of four companies: Bundy Manufacturing Company, International Time Recording Company, the Tabulating Machine Company, and the International Business Machines Company. This strategic combination was orchestrated by Charles Ranlett Flint, who aimed to consolidate the burgeoning technologies surrounding business machinery and tabulation systems. Each of the constituent companies specialized in different facets of data processing and time recording, providing a diverse portfolio of advancements in mechanical computation and time management. The headquarters in Endicott became a crucial hub for innovation and development in the field of computing.

Under the leadership of Thomas J. Watson, who became president shortly after its founding, C-T-R began to expand its product offerings and market reach. Watson's vision for the company emphasized customer service and employing a strong sales force, positioning the new entity as a key player in the increasingly competitive landscape of data processing and accounting. In 1924, the name of C-T-R was officially changed to International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), a name that would come to define the evolution of personal and enterprise computing throughout the 20th century.

This transformation from a consortium of individual manufacturing companies to a globally recognized corporation was significant, as it not only facilitated the development of technology that improved business efficiency but also laid the groundwork for innovations such as the electric tabulating machine and, eventually, the modern computer systems that drive today's information age. The establishment of IBM signaled the onset of a computing revolution that would reshape industries worldwide, making information processing more accessible and effective.