The Tabulating Machine Company was an American company founded in 1896 by Herman Hollerith. It specialized in the development and manufacturing of machines designed to process data, particularly for census and statistical purposes. The company's innovative use of punched cards revolutionized data collection and analysis, making it faster and more efficient. In 1911, the Tabulating Machine Company merged with several other companies to form International Business Machines Corporation (IBM). This merger marked a significant step in the evolution of computing technology, as IBM continued to advance the development of data processing machines and software, shaping the future of information technology.