eBay Buys Big Data Analytics Firm Expertmaker

Online marketplace eBay has acquired big data analytics firm Expertmaker, which specializes in helping clients with their optimization, prediction, and personalization initiatives. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Sweden and San Francisco-based Expertmaker, which focuses on combining artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning with big data analytics, has been an eBay partner since 2010. Most recently, Expertmaker helped eBay structure its data, to better collect insights into supply and demand. With more than 900 million listings, eBay's structured data initiative involves collecting, processing, and enriching the data; and creating product experiences.

As part of the deal, Expertmaker's employees will join eBay's Structured
Data Product and Technology team, and founder and CEO Lars Hard (pictured) will join eBay as Director, Data Science reporting to Amit Menipaz, VP and General Manager of Structured Data. Commenting on the deal, Hard said: 'Expertmaker is excited to join the eBay team, bringing innovative artificial intelligence, machine learning and large-scale optimization technology to eBay's structured data initiative. In partnership with eBay, we will be able to transcend traditional machine learning approaches to create adaptive and learning solutions using the Expertmaker platform.'

Web sites: www.expertmaker.com and www.ebay.com .