WiseTech Global to Cut 2,000 Jobs as AI Transforms Software Development
Key Takeaways
- ▸WiseTech Global plans to eliminate 2,000 jobs (50% of workforce) in product development and customer service, with cuts beginning in H2 FY26
- ▸CEO declares "the era of manually writing code as the core act of engineering is over," positioning AI as transforming software development fundamentally
- ▸Industry analysts question whether AI efficiency alone justifies such deep cuts, suggesting AI may serve as justification for broader cost restructuring
Summary
Australian logistics software company WiseTech Global announced plans to eliminate approximately 2,000 positions—roughly half its workforce—as it integrates artificial intelligence across engineering and customer service operations. The cuts, affecting both the parent company and its US subsidiary e2open, will begin in the second half of fiscal year 2026 and extend into FY27, primarily targeting product development and customer service teams.
CEO Zubin Appoo made a stark declaration about the shift in software development, stating that "the era of manually writing code as the core act of engineering is over." The company positions AI as amplifying productivity by leveraging WiseTech's three decades of logistics expertise, proprietary datasets, and network advantages. WiseTech develops CargoWise, a supply chain management platform used by over 22,000 companies across 193 countries, including 23 of the world's 25 largest freight forwarders.
Industry analysts are questioning whether AI efficiency fully explains such dramatic workforce reductions. Sanchit Vir Gogia, chief analyst at Greyhound Research, suggested the move represents "a strategic positioning statement" rather than purely an engineering decision, noting that "AI becomes the justification layer for a cost structure reset." WiseTech joins a growing list of major tech companies—including Salesforce, which cut customer support from 9,000 to 5,000 employees, and Microsoft, which eliminated 15,000 roles in 2025—citing AI as the primary driver for workforce reductions. AI was reportedly responsible for nearly 55,000 US layoffs in 2025, with company boards increasingly pressuring executives to achieve 20% or greater workforce cost reductions through AI adoption.
- WiseTech joins Salesforce, Microsoft, and others in major AI-driven workforce reductions, part of nearly 55,000 AI-related US layoffs in 2025
