AI in procurement and supply chain: which tasks to automate first
Updated
Across the 2.2 million US jobs in procurement and supply chain, the work scores 53 of 100 for AI exposure, weighted by how many people do each job. AI can take on about 952 hours a year per full-time person, 48% of a working year. The task that frees the most hours across the team is to prepare documents, about 141 hours a year for each person who does it.
- AI exposure, weighted by employment
- 53 out of 100 High exposure
- Hours AI can take on
- 952 hours a year per full-time person
- Task time AI can do today
- 32% AI speeds up another 55%
Tasks to automate first
The 15 tasks where AI can take on the most hours across procurement and supply chain: how exposed each task is, how much of the job it takes and how many people do that job. Hours are per person in the role that does the task. How we score each task.
| Task and who does it | AI exposure |
|---|---|
| Prepare documents, such as work orders, bills of lading, or shipping orders, to route materials. Bills of lading and shipping orders are routine, template-driven documents. Done by shipping clerks. | 72% AI can do it 141 hours a year for each person in the role |
| Compute amounts, such as space available, shipping, storage, or demurrage charges, using computer or price list. Charge and space calculations are arithmetic against rate tables. Done by shipping clerks. | 75% AI can do it 136 hours a year for each person in the role |
| Record shipment data, such as weight, charges, space availability, damages, or discrepancies, for reporting, accounting, or recordkeeping purposes. Logging weights, charges and discrepancies is mostly structured data entry. Done by shipping clerks. | 65% AI can do it 125 hours a year for each person in the role |
| Distribute production schedules or work orders to departments. Routing schedules and work orders is mostly digital distribution. Done by production clerks. | 74% AI can do it 129 hours a year for each person in the role |
| Compile information, such as production rates and progress, materials inventories, materials used, or customer information, so that status reports can be completed. Pulling production and inventory data into status reports is routine. Done by production clerks. | 82% AI can do it 124 hours a year for each person in the role |
| Review documents, such as production schedules, work orders, or staffing tables, to determine personnel or materials requirements or material priorities. Reviewing documents for material needs suits AI with oversight. Done by production clerks. | 58% AI helps 97 hours a year for each person in the role |
| Record and maintain files or records of customer requests, work or services performed, charges, expenses, inventory, or other dispatch information. Records, charges, and inventory logs are routine data entry and upkeep. Done by dispatchers. | 85% AI can do it 155 hours a year for each person in the role |
| Receive or prepare work orders. Digital intake turns customer requests into structured work orders easily. Done by dispatchers. | 75% AI can do it 139 hours a year for each person in the role |
| Prepare daily work and run schedules. Scheduling software and AI can build daily work and run schedules. Done by dispatchers. | 70% AI can do it 135 hours a year for each person in the role |
| Report project plans, progress, and results. AI generates progress reports and status summaries from project data. Done by logisticians. | 70% AI can do it 66 hours a year for each person in the role |
| Develop proposals that include documentation for estimates. AI drafts proposals and cost estimate documentation from templates. Done by logisticians. | 65% AI can do it 64 hours a year for each person in the role |
| Develop and implement technical project management tools, such as plans, schedules, and responsibility and compliance matrices. AI generates plans, schedules and compliance matrices from templates. Done by logisticians. | 70% AI can do it 61 hours a year for each person in the role |
| Monitor inventory levels of products or materials in warehouses. Inventory systems already track levels; staff review exceptions only. Done by logistics managers. | 70% AI can do it 48 hours a year for each person in the role |
| Maintain metrics, reports, process documentation, customer service logs, or training or safety records. Report generation and record keeping are highly automatable with software. Done by logistics managers. | 72% AI can do it 45 hours a year for each person in the role |
| Develop and document standard and emergency operating procedures for receiving, handling, storing, shipping, or salvaging products or materials. AI can draft SOPs from templates; manager reviews and approves. Done by logistics managers. | 65% AI can do it 45 hours a year for each person in the role |
What stays with people
13% of the task time across these roles needs a person, and the output of the rest still needs someone to check it. The tasks below take the most of that time.
- 32% AI can do it
- 55% AI helps
- 13% Needs a person
- Pack, seal, label, or affix postage to prepare materials for shipping, using hand tools, power tools, or postage meter. Shipping clerks, 10% exposed
- Deliver or route materials to departments using handtruck, conveyor, or sorting bins. Shipping clerks, 5% exposed
- Perform managerial duties such as hiring and training employees and overseeing facility needs or requirements. Logisticians, 15% exposed
- Protect and control proprietary materials. Logisticians, 20% exposed
- Supervise the activities of workers engaged in receiving, storing, testing, and shipping products or materials. Logistics managers, 15% exposed
Adoption path
Start with the tasks where AI helps a person, then automate the routine ones, then give whole workflows to agents with a person approving the output.
Roles in procurement and supply chain
16 roles, each linked to its task-by-task score. Of the roles with at least 2% of the jobs, dispatchers score highest at 65, inventory checkers lowest at 30.
- Shipping clerks, 37.6% of the team, score 47 out of 100
- Production clerks, 18% of the team, score 63 out of 100
- Logisticians, 11.6% of the team, score 53 out of 100
- Logistics managers, 10.2% of the team, score 51 out of 100
- Dispatchers, 9.3% of the team, score 65 out of 100
- Freight agents, 4.5% of the team, score 49 out of 100
- Purchasing managers, 3.9% of the team, score 51 out of 100
- Procurement clerks, 2.6% of the team, score 65 out of 100
- Inventory checkers, 2.5% of the team, score 30 out of 100
- Agricultural buyers, Counted under a related job in US data, score 48 out of 100
- Buyers, Counted under a related job in US data, score 51 out of 100
- Freight forwarders, Counted under a related job in US data, score 60 out of 100
- Logistics analysts, Counted under a related job in US data, score 63 out of 100
- Logistics engineers, Counted under a related job in US data, score 54 out of 100
- Purchasing agents, Counted under a related job in US data, score 49 out of 100
- Supply chain managers, Counted under a related job in US data, score 54 out of 100
Questions about AI in procurement and supply chain
Which tasks should a procurement team automate first?
The first task to automate is to prepare documents (72% exposed). Next come the tasks to compute amounts (75%) and to record shipment data (65%). Together they free the most hours across the team.
How many hours can AI save a procurement team?
About 952 hours a year per full-time person, 48% of a 2,000-hour working year. For a team of 10 that is about 9,520 hours, the time of 4.8 full-time people. The figure is the share of task time AI can remove today, weighted by how many people do each job.
Which roles in a procurement team are most exposed to AI?
Of the roles with at least 2% of the jobs, dispatchers score highest, at 65 of 100, and inventory checkers lowest, at 30. Each role's page lists its tasks one by one.
Will AI replace jobs in procurement and supply chain?
AI can do 32% of the task time across these roles today. Another 55% gets faster with AI while a person stays in charge. 13% needs a person. One task that stays with people is to pack, seal, label.
Where should a procurement team start with AI?
With the quick wins: approved assistants for the tasks AI helps with, under a written AI policy. Then automate the 14 tasks on this page AI can do end to end. An AI audit maps the tasks in your team and ranks them the same way this page does.
Next steps
Find the tasks to automate first in your team
We map the tasks in your procurement team, score each one the way this page does and build the automations that pay back first.