Will buyers be replaced by AI?
Updated
Buyers score 51 of 100 for AI exposure. The largest share of their task time, 62%, is work AI speeds up while they stay in charge. AI can take over 29% outright, and 9% stays with people.
- 29% AI can do it
- 62% AI helps
- 9% Needs a person
High exposure
Higher than 77% of the 923 occupations we scored.
Task by task
We graded 20 tasks, listed here from most to least exposed. AI can do 7 of them today, speeds up 11 and leaves 2 to people.
| Task | AI exposure |
|---|---|
| Provide clerks with information to print on price tags, such as price, mark-ups or mark-downs, manufacturer number, season code, or style number. Pulling price and style codes into tag files is routine data transfer. | 80% AI can do it |
| Monitor and analyze sales records, trends, or economic conditions to anticipate consumer buying patterns, company sales, and needed inventory. Sales trend and demand analysis is core data work AI handles well. | 70% AI can do it |
| Recommend mark-up rates, mark-down rates, or merchandise selling prices. Pricing recommendations come from margin and sales data analysis. | 62% AI can do it |
| Monitor competitors' sales activities by following their advertisements in newspapers or other media. Scanning and summarizing competitor ads is easily automated. | 62% AI can do it |
| Analyze environmental aspects of competing merchandise when making buying decisions. Comparing environmental attributes of products is research and summarizing work. | 60% AI can do it |
| Compare transportation options to determine the most energy-efficient options. Comparing energy use across transport options is calculation AI handles well. | 60% AI can do it |
| Monitor consumer preferences or environmental trends to determine the best way to introduce new green products. Tracking consumer and environmental trend signals is monitoring work AI does well. | 60% AI can do it |
| Authorize payment of invoices or return of merchandise. Invoice matching is automatable; human still approves payments and returns. | 55% AI helps |
| Determine which products should be featured in advertising, the advertising medium to be used, or when the ads should be run. AI can rank products and timing; marketing choices need human approval. | 55% AI helps |
| Examine, select, order, or purchase merchandise consistent with quality, quantity, specification requirements, or other factors, such as environmental soundness. AI can screen specs and options; buyer makes final selection. | 50% AI helps |
Show the other 10 tasks
| Task | AI exposure |
|---|---|
| Develop strategies to advertise green products or merchandise to consumers. AI drafts green campaign ideas; strategy and brand judgment stay human. | 50% AI helps |
| Buy merchandise or commodities for resale to wholesale or retail consumers. Sourcing blends AI research with supplier relationships and buyer judgment. | 45% AI helps |
| Identify opportunities to buy green commodities, such as alternative energy, water, or carbon-neutral products for resale to consumers. AI can search green supply options; buyer validates and chooses. | 45% AI helps |
| Obtain information about customer needs or preferences by conferring with sales or purchasing personnel. Conversations stay human; AI can summarize feedback and notes. | 35% AI helps |
| Consult with store or merchandise managers about budgets or goods to be purchased. AI can build budget scenarios; managers still decide purchases. | 35% AI helps |
| Negotiate prices, discount terms, or transportation arrangements with suppliers. Live negotiation with suppliers stays human; AI preps positions. | 30% AI helps |
| Collaborate with vendors to obtain or develop desired products. Co-developing products with vendors is collaborative and relationship driven. | 30% AI helps |
| Conduct sales meetings to introduce new merchandise. AI drafts presentation materials; live sales meetings remain human. | 22% AI helps |
| Train or supervise sales or clerical staff. Supervising and coaching staff is in person people management. | 18% Needs a person |
| Inspect merchandise or products to determine quality, value, or yield. Physical inspection of goods needs hands on checking in person. | 12% Needs a person |
How buyers compare
All occupations (923)
Business and financial operations (48)
Pay and outlook in the US
- Projected change in jobs
- +6.0% from 2024 to 2034
Skills to build
- Inspect merchandise for quality, value, and yield in person
- Negotiate prices and discount terms with suppliers face to face
- Lead sales meetings that introduce new merchandise
- Supervise and coach sales and clerical staff directly
- Check sales trend and pricing outputs in Microsoft Excel
- Approve purchase orders and payments in SAP software
Safer roles nearby
5 related occupations with lower scores.
Questions about buyers and AI
Will AI replace buyers?
Partly. About 4 in 10 working hours go to tasks AI can already do, mostly pulling price and style codes onto tags and analyzing sales trends. Inspecting merchandise, supervising staff, and negotiating live with suppliers stay with people.
Which buyer tasks is AI taking over?
Data-heavy tasks go first. Pulling price, mark-up, and style codes into tag files is routine data transfer, with an exposure score of 80. Monitoring sales trends to forecast needed inventory scores 70, and mark-up and mark-down recommendations score 62, because both come from sales and margin records that AI handles well.
Which buyer tasks stay with people?
Physical and live work stays human. Inspecting merchandise for quality, value, and yield scores 12, because it means handling the goods in person. Supervising and training sales or clerical staff scores 18, since coaching people is direct management. Negotiating prices and discount terms with suppliers scores 30, because live negotiation stays human even when AI prepares the positions.
How can buyers stay valuable as AI spreads?
Take responsibility for the work that needs a person in the room. Inspect samples yourself and record quality grades in Microsoft Access. Lead supplier negotiations and keep written positions in Microsoft Word. Check AI pricing suggestions in Excel against actual sales before approving orders in SAP software.
Related jobs
Next steps for buyers
Check which roles in your team AI can take on
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