Zoopla has added to its stable of agency software with the announcement to the stock exchange this morning that ZPG has acquired Expert Agent. The price was not disclosed. The purchase follows the announcement on January 31 that ZPG was in negotiations on a potential further acquisition. Expert Agent is claimed to be the “most widely used” estate agency software in the industry, used by around 2,300 branches. Today ZPG said that there was a “strong fit” with the company’s overall mission and strategy to offer the UK’s most comprehensive products. Established in 2003, Expert Agent was the first UK provider to take estate and letting agency software online and provides fully cloud-based software solutions and essential systems for the day-to-day management of inventory, marketing and communications for estate agents and lettings agents across the UK. The acquisition of Expert Agent was described as part of ZPG’s continuing mission to provide the most useful resources to and be the most effective partner for UK property professionals. Expert Agent has a strong track record and experienced management team with deep knowledge of UK property and software markets. Expert Agent will continue to operate as a standalone platform and brand and the team will become an integral part of the Property Services division of ZPG. Mark Goddard, managing director, ZPG Property Services, said: “This acquisition helps us continue to enhance the services we offer to UK property professionals, including software and CRM, digital marketing and data insight tool. “We will integrate our MoveIT and MyPropertyFile products into the Expert Agent platform in time to provide its members with a range of new revenue opportunities. “Our ambition is to be the most effective partner to the UK property industry and this deal is another step towards that goal. We look forward to welcoming Mike and his team to the ZPG family.” Mike Griffiths, managing director at Expert Agent, added: “We have known the ZPG team for many years and the combination with Expert Agent will be a clear win for UK agents. “Whilst remaining an independent solution, we will now be able to take Expert Agent to the next level with the backing of ZPG by integrating its existing products and investing further in the platform to ensure our members benefit from an end-to-end marketing and software solution.” Just under a year ago – last April – Griffiths spoke out after Zoopla’s acquisition of the Property Software Group, saying that many independent agents would “want to stay with an independent software provider”. He claimed that after he sold GMW Systems, his previous estate agency software business, to the Assertahome portal in 2000, “independent agents saw through it and were not prepared to give a ‘big brother’ corporate access to their client data”. Zoopla software deal: How will independent agents react?
ZPG, parent group of UK property website Zoopla, has increased its agency-orientated software offerings with the acquisition of software provider Expert Agent. The firm's product — a cloud based solution to help estate agents manage marketing, communications and inventory — is used in some 2,300 branches across the country. Under the terms of the deal, Expert Agent will continue to operate as a standalone platform, with its employees becoming part of Zoopla's Property Services division. In an interview with Business Insider, Mr Smith said that he was "delighted" by the deal.