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How exposed to AI is a Wholesale and Retail Buyers, Except Farm Product?

Of the 20 tasks O*NET lists for wholesale and retail buyers, except farm products, 3 could be done in half the time with a chat window today. 5 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
BuyerGrocery BuyerProcurement SpecialistPurchaserPurchasing CoordinatorRetail BuyerTrader
Reachable today Needs software built first Cannot be sped up
20
tasks rated for this occupation
36%
hold a degree, from a survey of 29
34 of 48
least protected in business and finance

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

3
  • Analyze environmental aspects of competing merchandise when making buying decisions
  • Compare transportation options to determine the most energy-efficient options
  • Develop strategies to advertise green products or merchandise to consumers

Only with software built on top

12
  • Negotiate prices, discount terms, or transportation arrangements with suppliers
  • Recommend mark-up rates, mark-down rates, or merchandise selling prices
  • Obtain information about customer needs or preferences by conferring with sales or purchasing personnel
  • Authorize payment of invoices or return of merchandise
  • Monitor and analyze sales records, trends, or economic conditions to anticipate consumer buying patterns, company sales, and needed inventory
  • Collaborate with vendors to obtain or develop desired products
  • Consult with store or merchandise managers about budgets or goods to be purchased
  • Provide clerks with information to print on price tags, such as price, mark-ups or mark-downs, manufacturer number, season code, or style number
  • Determine which products should be featured in advertising, the advertising medium to be used, or when the ads should be run
  • Monitor competitors' sales activities by following their advertisements in newspapers or other media
  • Identify opportunities to buy green commodities, such as alternative energy, water, or carbon-neutral products for resale to consumers
  • Monitor consumer preferences or environmental trends to determine the best way to introduce new green products

Cannot be sped up

5
  • Buy merchandise or commodities for resale to wholesale or retail consumers
  • Examine, select, order, or purchase merchandise consistent with quality, quantity, specification requirements, or other factors, such as environmental soundness
  • Inspect merchandise or products to determine quality, value, or yield
  • Conduct sales meetings to introduce new merchandise
  • Train or supervise sales or clerical staff
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.