The private-equity giant has been building its "last-mile" logistics business amid a surge in e-commerce demand.
A new eBay service will enable merchants to store inventory in strategically located warehouses, resulting in faster delivery times.
The $18.7 billion deal is a bet on the future of e-commerce and logistics growth.
"We continue to see expense challenges in the warehouse and transportation areas of our supply chain," CEO Tom Bené says.
CFO Brian Olsavsky defends the company's heavy spending, saying "We are continuing to invest in businesses that ... can last for decades."
There's a gap that many acquirers are starting to pay more attention to: the supply chain uncertainty created when companies combine.
The Internet of Things may transform supply chain management, but connected industrial sensors so far have pointed to an evolution, not a revolution.
The SEC investigation comes as analysts and investors have questioned the transparency of the e-commerce giant's financial statements.
With demands from corporate clients getting louder and logistics firms getting bigger, the heat is on for technology upgrades.
Mix together an economic rebound, rising interest rates and a driver shortage and what do you get? The makings of supply chain turbulence in 2015.
