WiseTech Global To Cut 2,000 Jobs As AI Drives Big Workforce Changes

WiseTech Global has announced plans to cut around 2,000 jobs as part of a major restructuring driven by artificial intelligence adoption. The job cuts will take place over the next two years and could affect nearly one-third of the company’s global workforce.

WiseTech Global, which develops shipping and logistics management software, currently employs about 7,000 people across 40 countries. The restructuring will mainly impact product development, engineering, and customer service teams, where AI will increasingly automate tasks and workflows.

The company plans to integrate AI more deeply into both its customer-facing platforms and internal systems. In some departments, workforce reductions could reach up to 50%, particularly in areas where automation can replace manual processes.

One division expected to be significantly affected is E2open, the U.S.-based cloud computing company acquired by WiseTech for $2.1 billion. This unit may see major workforce reductions as part of the restructuring.

CEO Zubin Appoo described the shift as a major technological turning point, stating that software development is undergoing its biggest transformation in decades and that manual coding is no longer the central activity in engineering due to AI automation.

Despite the job cuts, WiseTech reported strong financial results, posting a profit of $114.5 million in the first half of the year, which was higher than analysts expected. The company also announced an interim dividend and maintained its full-year financial forecast.

Investors responded positively to the news, and the company’s shares rose by about 11% following the announcement. However, the stock remains below its peak from November 2024, partly due to governance concerns related to founder and former CEO Richard White and uncertainty about the long-term impact of AI on the company.