COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 561110

Office Administrative Services

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

20companies1920–1997founding years18still active2no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedPitney Bowes Inc.FoundedPitney Bowes Inc.
1920
FoundedSerco Group plcFoundedSerco Group plc
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedOmron CorporationFoundedOmron Corporation
1948
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedGenting Bhd.FoundedGenting Bhd.
1965
FoundedHospital Central Services, Inc.
1970
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; currencies float.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher worldwide.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedWarrantech CorporationFoundedWarrantech Corporation
1983
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedCorporate Express, Inc.FoundedCorporate Express, Inc.
1986
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall sharply around the world.
FoundedNational Express Group PLCFoundedNational Express Group PLC
1988
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
FoundedConcentra Inc.FoundedConcentra Inc.FoundedRéseau Ferré de France
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit worldwide.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

Pitney Bowes Inc. →
Active · founded 1920
Pitney Bowes Inc.
Pitney Bowes Inc. →
Active · founded 1920
Pitney Bowes Inc.
Serco Group plc →
Active · founded 1929 · United Kingdom
Serco Group plc provides facilities management and other engineering services for a variety of governmental and…
Serco Group plc →
Active · founded 1929 · United Kingdom
Serco Group plc provides facilities management and other engineering services for a variety of governmental and…
Omron Corporation →
Active · founded 1948 · Japan
Omron Corporation is a world leader in the field of automation.
Omron Corporation →
Active · founded 1948 · Japan
Omron Corporation is a world leader in the field of automation.
Genting Bhd. →
Active · founded 1965 · Malaysia
Genting Bhd.
Genting Bhd. →
Active · founded 1965 · Malaysia
Genting Bhd.
Hospital Central Services, Inc. →
Active · founded 1970
Working through a group of separately incorporated affiliates, Allentown, Pennsylvania-based Hospital Central Services,…
Hospital Central Services, Inc. →
Active · founded 1970
Working through a group of separately incorporated affiliates, Allentown, Pennsylvania-based Hospital Central Services,…
Warrantech Corporation →
Active · founded 1983
Warrantech Corporation operates as a third-party administrator of extended warranty services, providing its services to…
Warrantech Corporation →
Active · founded 1983
Warrantech Corporation operates as a third-party administrator of extended warranty services, providing its services to…
Corporate Express, Inc. →
Active · founded 1986
Corporate Express, Inc., wholly owned by the Dutch firm Buhrmann N.V.
Corporate Express, Inc. →
Active · founded 1986
Corporate Express, Inc., wholly owned by the Dutch firm Buhrmann N.V.
National Express Group PLC →
Active · founded 1988 · United Kingdom
If you have ever used public transportation in the United Kingdom or Australia, or ridden on a school bus in the United…
National Express Group PLC →
Active · founded 1988 · United Kingdom
If you have ever used public transportation in the United Kingdom or Australia, or ridden on a school bus in the United…
Concentra Inc. →
Active · founded 1997
Addison, Texas-based Concentra Inc.
Concentra Inc. →
Active · founded 1997
Addison, Texas-based Concentra Inc.
Réseau Ferré de France →
Defunct · founded 1997 · France
Réseau Ferré de France (RFF) owns France's railroad infrastructure.
Réseau Ferré de France →
Defunct · founded 1997 · France
Réseau Ferré de France (RFF) owns France's railroad infrastructure.
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