# Provenance stamped 2026-10-07 (roadmap#943): written by an API Evangelist sweep (dated 2026-06-13 by the file itself), not
# harvested from the provider. `method: generated` so the economics campaign may replace it with a
# dated, verbatim transcription; every figure below is unverified until it does.
method: generated
generated: '2026-06-13'
specification: FinOps Framework
specificationVersion: '1.0'
schema: https://www.finops.org/framework/
provider: Australia Post
providerId: australia-post
created: '2026-06-13'
modified: '2026-06-13'
reconciled: true
tags:
  - FinOps
  - Cost Management
  - FOCUS
  - Postal
  - Logistics / Shipping
description: FOCUS-aligned FinOps for Australia Post APIs. Free APIs (Postage Assessment
  Calculator, Locations) carry no API-level cost. Contract APIs (Shipping and Tracking,
  Delivery Choices) tie API usage directly to Australia Post postage spend — each
  shipment lodged via the API generates a charge at the contracted eParcel or StarTrack
  rate, billed through the customer's Australia Post account. Delivery Partner API
  cost is governed by the partner agreement. Total API-driven spend is therefore dominated
  by volume of shipments created, service class selected, weight, dimensions, and
  destination.
sources:
  - https://auspost.com.au/integrate-shipping-and-tracking-apis
  - https://auspost.com.au/developers/help-support/
alignedWith:
  framework: FinOps Foundation Framework
  frameworkUrl: https://www.finops.org/framework/
  dataSpec: FOCUS
  dataSpecVersion: '1.3'
  dataSpecUrl: https://focus.finops.org/focus-specification/v1-3/
publisherName: Australia Post
serviceCategory: Logistics / Shipping
billingModel:
  pricingCategory: Postage Metered + Free Tier
  billingFrequency: Account Invoice (typically monthly)
  billingCurrency: AUD
  chargeCategories:
    - Usage
    - Adjustment
    - Credit
focusColumns:
  ServiceName: Australia Post API
  ServiceCategory: Logistics / Shipping
  ProviderName: Australia Post
  PublisherName: Australia Post
  InvoiceIssuerName: Australia Post Group Pty Ltd
  BillingCurrency: AUD
meters:
  - name: shipments_created
    unit: shipment
    aggregation: sum
    dimensions:
      - service_class
      - destination_zone
      - weight_band
      - dangerous_goods
    apis:
      - australia-post:shipping-and-tracking
  - name: labels_printed
    unit: label
    aggregation: sum
    dimensions:
      - label_format
    apis:
      - australia-post:shipping-and-tracking
  - name: return_labels_created
    unit: label
    aggregation: sum
    apis:
      - australia-post:shipping-and-tracking
  - name: postage_rate_lookups
    unit: request
    aggregation: sum
    apis:
      - australia-post:postage-assessment-calculator
    cost: 0
  - name: location_lookups
    unit: request
    aggregation: sum
    apis:
      - australia-post:locations
    cost: 0
  - name: delivery_events_reported
    unit: event
    aggregation: sum
    apis:
      - australia-post:delivery-partner
principles:
  - name: Visibility
    description: Map each API call to Australia Post account billing line items by
      correlating shipment IDs returned by the Shipping and Tracking API with charges
      on the monthly eParcel/StarTrack account statement.
  - name: Allocation
    description: Tag shipments with order reference, business unit, or cost-centre
      metadata in API request payloads to enable chargeback and showback reporting
      at the shipment level.
  - name: Optimization
    description: Analyse service-class mix — compare Express Post vs Standard parcels
      vs StarTrack — to identify opportunities to shift lower-urgency shipments to
      cheaper services. Use the Postage Assessment Calculator API (free) in pre-checkout
      flows to show customers real-time rates without incurring production shipment costs.
  - name: Accountability
    description: Reconcile monthly Australia Post invoices against shipment counts
      from the Shipping and Tracking API. Investigate variance between lodged and
      billed shipments; check for voided labels or manifesting errors. Track dangerous
      goods surcharges separately.