People Team AI Ask about a date

How exposed to AI is a Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Product?

Of the 19 tasks O*NET lists for sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products, 8 could be done in half the time with a chat window today. 2 cannot be sped up at all. Here is which.

Exposure means published research judged an AI could halve the time a task takes, at the same quality. It does not mean the task stops needing a person. How to read this

Also called
Account RepresentativeCustomer Account TechnicianInside SalespersonOutside Sales RepresentativeRoute Sales RepresentativeSales ConsultantSales ProfessionalSales Representative (Sales Rep)SalesmanSalesperson
Reachable today Needs software built first Cannot be sped up
19
tasks rated for this occupation
34%
hold a degree, from a survey of 22
1242k
people do this job in the US
2 of 22
least protected in sales

Every task, and what AI can do with it

These are O*NET's task statements for this occupation, exactly as written, sorted into the three bands by the ratings behind this report. Nothing has been reworded.

Reachable with a chat window today

8
  • Answer customers' questions about products, prices, availability, product uses, and credit terms
  • Consult with clients after sales or contract signings to resolve problems and to provide ongoing support
  • Prepare sales contracts and order forms
  • Provide customers with product samples and catalogs
  • Contact regular and prospective customers to demonstrate products, explain product features, and solicit orders
  • Identify prospective customers by using business directories, following leads from existing clients, participating in organizations and clubs, and attending trade shows and conferences
  • Plan, assemble, and stock product displays in retail stores, or make recommendations to retailers regarding product displays, promotional programs, and advertising
  • Negotiate details of contracts and payments

Only with software built on top

9
  • Recommend products to customers, based on customers' needs and interests
  • Estimate or quote prices, credit or contract terms, warranties, and delivery dates
  • Monitor market conditions, product innovations, and competitors' products, prices, and sales
  • Perform administrative duties, such as preparing sales budgets and reports, keeping sales records, and filing expense account reports
  • Negotiate with retail merchants to improve product exposure, such as shelf positioning and advertising
  • Prepare drawings, estimates, and bids that meet specific customer needs
  • Obtain credit information about prospective customers
  • Arrange and direct delivery and installation of products and equipment
  • Buy products from manufacturers or brokerage firms and distribute them to wholesale and retail clients

Cannot be sped up

2
  • Check stock levels and reorder merchandise as necessary
  • Forward orders to manufacturers
What this does not say

This is not a prediction about your job

Nobody surveyed an employer. Tasks are counted equally, so a percentage here is a share of the list rather than a share of your week. And the ratings were made in 2023, which makes every figure a floor rather than a ceiling.

It must never be used to select anyone for redundancy. The full limits are here.

Where to go next

This is the standard task list for the title. The useful next question is which of the tasks you actually do should go near AI, and which should not.

Sort your own tasks Read the full report

Exposure ratings from Eloundou, Manning, Mishkin and Rock, GPTs are GPTs: Labor market impact potential of LLMs, Science 384, 1306–1308, 2024, used under the MIT licence. This page includes information from the O*NET Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. People Team AI has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Employment figures from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.