What is the CargoWise Automation Fee and How does It Impact Your Logistics Operations?

From the launch of the CargoWise Value Pack, logistics teams noticed a new line item quietly appearing on every billing screen: the CargoWise Automation Fee. It appears immediately, cannot be turned off, and has quickly become one of the most discussed changes in operations, finance, and consumer billing.

But this is not a fault or an error; it is the foundation of WiseTech’s new commercial model. The Automation Fee is intended to simplify billing, enable AI-driven automation, and align system costs with the logistics processes you provide. Understanding why it exists and how it affects your operations is now essential for all CargoWise users.

CargoWise Automation Fee

The automation fee in the new CargoWise Value Pack (CVP) is a single, standardized charge that applies to each invoicing job created in the system. Instead of charging separately for dozens of behind-the-scenes system activities like automated data checks, workflow triggers, event updates, and backend processing, WiseTech combined the costs into a single, unified fee.

According to the Automation Fee Management Update note, CargoWise automatically posts:

• A special Job Revenue Journal that accumulates the fee,
• A work-in-process transaction allows you to bill and recover the amount from your customer.

It occurs when an invoicing job is generated, even before the invoice is posted. This automation ensures accuracy, consistency, and traceability for all jobs you run.

Why does WiseTech Enforce the Automation Fee?

To Replace Outdated User-Based Licensing

The logistics industry has become more automated, and traditional user-based pricing did not accurately reflect how work was being done. With AI and workflow automation reducing manual effort, WiseTech required a pricing model that was based on activity rather than headcount.

To Match How Logistics Companies Bill Customers

Terminal fees, customs charges, fuel surcharges, and warehouse costs are all disbursements that forwarders routinely pass through. WiseTech used the same logic. The Automation Fee is intended to be passed on to your customer, so the cost is recoverable and transparent.

To Simplify Billing

Instead of tracking numerous small system charges, the Value Pack simplifies things by charging a single fee per job. This promotes clearer reconciliation and lowers administrative overhead.

To Support Scalable AI and Automation Adoption

WiseTech now includes 213+ features in the Value Pack, many of which are AI-driven, without charging extra for each new capability. The automation fee establishes a sustainable framework for ongoing innovation.

How does the Automation Fee Work Inside CargoWise?

CargoWise does not treat this fee as a manual line item. It is built right into the system logic.

Auto-Accrual When an Invoicing Job Is Created

When a job invoice record is created, CargoWise posts:

• Special Job Revenue Journal (accrual)
  
• WIP transaction for recovery

These entries appear on the job profit and operational profit reports.

Fees are Automatically Displayed in the Billing Tab

Opening the billing tab displays the automation fee as a disbursement. It cannot be disabled because it is generated by the system.

Dedicated GL Accounts and Charge Codes

CargoWise auto-deploys:

• Automation Fee Clearing Account
• Automation Fee Payables Account
• Standard revenue, cost, WIP, and accrual mappings

These are automatically deployed and can be reviewed or adjusted later.

Auto-Created Invoicing Jobs

CargoWise generates an invoicing job whenever an operational job is created or edited, regardless of registry settings.

This ensures that the fee is consistently applied.

Can I Remove the CargoWise Automation Fee?

When you access the billing tab with the CargoWise Value Pack (CVP), the automation fee is automatically added as a disbursement, and there is no system setting to prevent it from appearing. WiseTech incorporated this behavior into the Value Pack model because the fee functions as any other recoverable logistics charge, such as terminal fees or customs duties, and can be passed on to customers as part of the service provided.

How the Automation Fee Impacts Your Logistics Operations?

One of the biggest changes with the Value Pack is how deeply the fee is integrated into system logic.

Profit Visibility

Automation fees improve the clarity of job profit and operational profit analyses. When the cost of automation is applied consistently to each job, margin calculations become more precise.

Cost Recovery

Because the fee is classified as a disbursement (DSB), logistics providers can pass it through to customers just like any other recoverable cost.

Billing and Reconciliation

With a single automation-related charge replacing multiple system charges, finance teams spend far less time matching transactions, checking GL codes, or correcting invoices.

Finance Closes More Quickly

Standardized GL accounts and system-generated revenue journals reduce back-and-forth communication between operations and finance.

Automatic access to new automation

The Value Pack includes ongoing automation enhancements without additional licensing costs. The Automation Fee underpins this continuous improvement model.

Importance of CargoWise Support in Managing the CargoWise Automation Fee Configuration 

As companies move into the value pack model, the automation fee and its system-driven accounting can feel overwhelming, and that’s where Carguber comes in. We serve as your dedicated CargoWise support and helpdesk partner, helping your team understand how the fee moves through billing, finance, and operations. From automated journals and WIP behavior to GL mapping and tax setup, Carguber makes the transition smooth and compliant so your teams can stay focused on service, not system complexity.

With Carguber, your team gets:

• Charge code support for origin/destination logic
• Clarity on WIP and accrual postings tied to the automation fee
• End-to-end GL mapping assistance
• Billing and tax configuration guidance
• Help with intercompany invoice behaviors
• Training sessions on auto-created invoicing jobs
• Day-to-day troubleshooting and optimization

Because the automation fee affects almost every aspect of the accounting cycle, having a responsive support partner is no longer an option; it’s required. At Carguber, we simplify complexity so that your teams can focus on operations, margins, and customer service rather than system confusion.

Conclusion

The CargoWise automation fee is not an error; it is the foundation for the new Value Pack model. By simplifying billing, increasing transparency, and aligning system costs with logistics processes, it provides logistics providers with a clear, scalable way to manage technology expenses while enabling AI-driven productivity. 

However, navigating these changes does not have to be overwhelming. Carguber is here to help you through each step. If you need help understanding the automation fee, configuring your system, training your teams, or optimizing your CargoWise setup for the new model, we’ve got you covered. Schedule a free demo today!