Brand: IBM
Country of Origin: United States 🇺🇸
Founded: 1911
Industry: Enterprise Technology, Artificial Intelligence, Hybrid Cloud & Quantum Computing
Company: International Business Machines Corporation
Headquarters: Armonk, New York, United States
Chairman, President & CEO: Arvind Krishna
Official Website: IBM Official Website
Featured By: ASIA Best Brands — Global Brands
About IBM
IBM is one of the world’s most established technology companies, with a history spanning more than a century of developments in data processing, mainframe computing, enterprise software, artificial intelligence and quantum computing.
Today, IBM focuses primarily on enterprise technology through software, consulting and infrastructure, with hybrid cloud and AI at the centre of its strategy.
From Data Processing to Modern Computing
IBM traces its origins to 1911, when the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company was formed through the combination of several technology businesses. The company adopted the name International Business Machines Corporation, or IBM, in 1924.
Over the following decades, IBM became closely connected with the development of modern business computing.
The IBM System/360, launched in 1964, introduced a compatible family of mainframe computers that allowed customers to run software across different machines within the same architecture. It became one of the most influential computing platforms of its era.
IBM later helped bring personal computing into the mainstream with the launch of the IBM PC in 1981.
Hybrid Cloud at the Centre
IBM has increasingly shifted from traditional hardware toward software and cloud-based enterprise technology.
A major step came in 2019, when IBM completed its approximately US$34 billion acquisition of Red Hat. The acquisition strengthened IBM’s position in open-source software and hybrid cloud computing.
Hybrid cloud allows organisations to connect applications and data across their own infrastructure, private clouds and multiple public cloud providers.
This approach is particularly important for large enterprises that cannot simply move all critical systems into a single public cloud environment.
watsonx and Enterprise AI
IBM and AI: watsonx. Image Source: IBM Newsroom.
Artificial intelligence has become one of IBM’s major areas of growth.
Its watsonx portfolio provides technologies for building, deploying and governing AI models and applications in enterprise environments.
IBM is increasingly extending this approach into agentic AI. At Think 2026, the company expanded watsonx Orchestrate into a platform designed to help organisations deploy, manage and govern AI agents from different sources.
Unlike consumer-focused AI platforms, IBM primarily concentrates on business applications where security, governance, trusted data and integration with existing systems are critical.
Mainframes for the AI Era
Mainframe computing remains an important part of IBM’s identity.
In 2025, IBM introduced IBM z17, describing it as its first mainframe fully engineered for the AI era. The system is designed to support enterprise-scale AI alongside the high-volume transaction processing traditionally associated with IBM mainframes.
Mainframes continue to support mission-critical workloads in industries such as banking, government, insurance and retail.
By combining established infrastructure with new AI capabilities, IBM is modernising one of the technologies most closely associated with its history.
Building the Future of Quantum Computing
IBM is also one of the major companies developing quantum computing.
Its current roadmap combines quantum processors with classical high-performance computing, an approach IBM describes as quantum-centric supercomputing.
In 2026, IBM committed more than US$10 billion over five years to quantum computing research, manufacturing, partnerships and ecosystem development. The company is working toward its planned Starling fault-tolerant quantum computer in 2029.
IBM’s quantum network already includes systems and research partnerships in several countries, including major projects in Asia.
A Long-Standing Presence Across Asia Pacific
Customers are seen in IBM’s exhibition booth at an IT exhibition in Nanjing. Image Source: Global Times.
Asia Pacific plays an important role in IBM’s global operations.
IBM has teams and operations across markets including China, India, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam.
In July 2026, IBM outlined a regional strategy aimed at helping Asia-Pacific organisations become AI-first enterprises by 2030, with a focus on AI governance, hybrid cloud and digital sovereignty.
India is also becoming important to IBM’s quantum strategy. IBM, Tata Consultancy Services and the Government of Andhra Pradesh are developing a Quantum Valley Tech Park planned around an IBM Quantum System Two with a 156-qubit Heron processor.
IBM quantum systems are also operating or being developed with institutions in Japan and South Korea, strengthening Asia’s role in the company’s advanced computing ecosystem.
Business Strength in the AI Era
IBM generated approximately US$67.5 billion in revenue in 2025, an increase of 8% from the previous year.
Software revenue grew 11% for the year, while IBM’s generative AI book of business had surpassed US$12.5 billion by the end of 2025.
In the second quarter of 2026, IBM reported US$17.2 billion in revenue, with software remaining its largest business segment at US$7.8 billion.
These results reflect IBM’s continuing shift toward software, AI and hybrid cloud while maintaining its infrastructure and consulting businesses.
Why IBM Is Featured on ASIA Best Brands
IBM demonstrates how a technology company can remain relevant through repeated reinvention.
From tabulating machines and System/360 to personal computers, hybrid cloud, watsonx and quantum computing, IBM has participated in several major generations of information technology.
Its substantial presence across India, Japan, South Korea, Southeast Asia and the wider Asia-Pacific region also makes Asia an important part of its AI and quantum computing strategy.
By combining enterprise software, infrastructure, artificial intelligence, consulting and advanced computing research, IBM remains one of the world’s most influential technology brands featured on ASIA Best Brands.
Official Website:
IBM Official Website
Category: Enterprise Technology | Artificial Intelligence | Hybrid Cloud | Quantum Computing
Tags: IBM, IBM watsonx, Hybrid Cloud, Artificial Intelligence, Quantum Computing, IBM Mainframe, Red Hat, Enterprise Technology, Asia Pacific, ASIA Best Brands
Sources
1. IBM — Official Website & Company Overview
Official information covering IBM’s business, history and technology portfolio.
About IBM
2. IBM — System/360 History
Official history covering one of IBM’s most influential computing platforms.
IBM System/360
3. IBM — Red Hat Acquisition
Official information on IBM’s US$34 billion acquisition of Red Hat and hybrid cloud strategy.
IBM Completes Acquisition of Red Hat
4. IBM — Enterprise AI and watsonx
Official 2026 information covering watsonx Orchestrate, AI agents and IBM’s enterprise AI strategy.
IBM Think 2026
5. IBM — Quantum Computing Roadmap
Official information covering IBM’s quantum development strategy and future fault-tolerant systems.
IBM Quantum Roadmap
6. IBM — 2025 Financial Results
Official results covering IBM’s US$67.5 billion annual revenue, software growth and AI business.
IBM 2025 Results
7. IBM — Q2 2026 Financial Results
Latest available official financial information covering revenue and segment performance.
IBM Q2 2026 Results
8. IBM — Asia Pacific AI Strategy
Official 2026 information covering IBM’s AI-first enterprise strategy and regional developments.
IBM Asia Pacific AI Strategy