Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products

Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products

AI Risk Score56%Mid Risk

The 56% risk score reflects the overall automation risk of your profession on a scale of 0–100. The higher the score, the more likely parts of your role could be handled by AI, increasing efficiency, but also raising the possibility of job disruption. Nearly all jobs include tasks that are automatable to some degree.

In this role, you purchase machinery, equipment, tools, parts, supplies, or services necessary for the operation of an establishment. purchase raw or semifinished materials for manufacturing. may negotiate contracts. Your job is considered Mid Risk for AI automation.

Below is your job's AI vulnerability profile with detailed breakdowns of tasks, knowledge areas, skills, and abilities. Each item includes AI risk scores and importance ratings to help you prioritize what to focus on. Plus, explore the technology section to see what tools and software you'll likely encounter in this role.

You're already ahead of the curve by checking your risk and exploring your options. This project goes beyond one role, we’re building a global job warning system to help everyone stay ahead of AI. By supporting our research, you’ll unlock your full job profile, including detailed risk breakdowns, trend alerts, and priority access to new research. Supporting our research not only gives you deeper insights into your own role, it helps us keep this project alive for millions of others navigating the future of work, but don't worry, if you are not ready to support us, we provide enough free insights to get you started.

In the meantime explore the sections below, and don't miss the What to do next? section for practical steps you can start today.

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On the job, you would

On-the-job activities and responsibilities that define your role. Each task is analyzed for automation potential and contributes to your overall AI risk assessment.

9/19
Purchase products or services.4.52Risk

Purchasing merchandise involves data analysis and decision-making that AI can support, though human expertise is needed for quality assessments.

Purchase products or services.4.55Risk

Preparing purchase orders and reviewing requisitions can be automated with AI systems that manage financial transactions, though human oversight is often necessary.

Obtain information about goods or services.4Risk

Researching suppliers involves data analysis that AI can assist with, but human judgment is needed for comprehensive evaluations.

Analyze business or financial data.4.35Risk

Analyzing price proposals and financial data can be automated with AI tools, though human insight is needed for strategic decisions.

Evaluate applicable laws and regulations to determine impact on organizational activities.4.55Risk

Monitoring laws and regulations involves understanding legal nuances, which are challenging for AI to fully automate.

Negotiate contracts with clients or service providers.4.52

Negotiating contracts requires interpersonal skills and understanding of nuanced terms, which are challenging for AI to replicate fully.

Monitor inventories of products or materials.3.77Risk

Monitoring shipments can be automated with AI systems that track logistics, though human intervention is needed for resolving issues.

Confer with personnel to coordinate business operations.4Risk

Discussing defective goods involves interpersonal skills and problem-solving, which are less automatable by AI.

Monitor organizational processes.3.86Risk

Evaluating contract performance can be automated with AI tools that monitor compliance, though human oversight is often necessary.

Advanced Problem AnalysisRisk
Strategic Decision ImplementationRisk
Complex System OptimizationRisk

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Knowledge

Theoretical knowledge and understanding required for your position. Knowledge areas are evaluated for AI replacement likelihood and factor into your risk score.

9/22

Administration and Management

4Risk

Administration and Management involve repetitive, data-driven tasks (e.g., scheduling, reporting, workflow automation) that AI can handle efficiently, while strategic decision-making remains partially human-centric.

Administrative

3.22Risk

Administrative tasks involve repetitive, rule-based processes that AI can automate efficiently with RPA and NLP.

Economics and Accounting

3.7Risk

Economics and Accounting involve repetitive data analysis, forecasting, and bookkeeping tasks that AI can automate efficiently, though some judgment-based aspects may require human oversight.

Sales and Marketing

2.48Risk

Sales and Marketing involve repetitive tasks (e.g., data analysis, email automation) that AI can handle, but require human judgment for relationship-building, creative strategy, and complex negotiations.

Customer and Personal Service

3.86Risk

This domain includes both routine customer service tasks (automatable) and personal interaction needs (less automatable), with AI likely to handle 60% of potential automation in the next five years.

Personnel and Human Resources

2.64Risk

Personnel and Human Resources involves repetitive tasks like payroll, scheduling, and resume screening that AI can automate efficiently, with growing capabilities in data analysis and process optimization.

Production and Processing

3.41Risk

Production and Processing involve repetitive, structured tasks that AI can automate efficiently, such as quality control, data analysis, and workflow management.

Computers and Electronics

3.14Risk

The domain involves repetitive manufacturing, testing, and customer support tasks that AI can automate, with growing capabilities in complex design and analysis tasks.

Engineering and Technology

2.77Risk

Engineering and Technology involve repetitive, data-driven tasks (e.g., coding, simulations, diagnostics) that AI can automate efficiently, with growing capabilities in complex problem-solving and system design.

Advanced Analytics

Risk

Machine Learning

Risk

Predictive Modeling

Risk

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Skills

Practical abilities and competencies you need to perform your job effectively. Skills are assessed for automation vulnerability and help determine your AI risk level.

9/25

Reading Comprehension

4

Active Listening

3.88

Writing

3.75

Speaking

3.88

Mathematics

2.88

Critical Thinking

3.75

Active Learning

3.75

Learning Strategies

3

Monitoring

3.75

Advanced Problem Solving

Collapsed
Strategic Decision Making
Risk
Complex Analysis
Risk
Critical Thinking
Risk

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Abilities

Innate and learned capabilities that enable you to succeed in your role. Abilities are analyzed for AI replication potential and contribute to your overall risk assessment.

9/25

Oral Comprehension

4Risk

Oral comprehension involves nuanced understanding of speech, context, and tone, which AI is advancing but not yet fully automated in complex real-world scenarios.

Written Comprehension

4.12Risk

Written comprehension involves tasks like text analysis, summarization, and question-answering, which AI already excels at through advanced NLP models. These capabilities are likely to be fully automated within 5 years.

Oral Expression

3.88Risk

Oral Expression involves complex, context-dependent communication that requires nuance, adaptability, and real-time interaction, which current AI systems struggle to fully replicate, though some aspects like script generation may be automated.

Written Expression

3.88Risk

Written Expression involves nuanced understanding, creativity, and context, which AI can partially replicate but not fully, limiting automation potential in complex or original tasks.

Fluency of Ideas

3

Fluency of Ideas involves complex, context-dependent creativity and adaptability that current AI lacks, even with advancements in generative models.

Originality

3

Originality requires creative insight and novel synthesis of ideas, which AI currently lacks, though it may generate novel content based on patterns rather than true originality.

Problem Sensitivity

3.75

Problem Sensitivity requires nuanced judgment, contextual understanding, and adaptability, which current AI systems lack. While AI can analyze data, true problem sensitivity involves human intuition, ethics, and creativity.

Deductive Reasoning

3.75Risk

AI excels in structured deductive tasks but may struggle with complex, context-dependent reasoning requiring human intuition.

Inductive Reasoning

3.75Risk

Inductive reasoning involves pattern recognition and generalization, which AI already excels at through machine learning, with further advancements likely to enhance this capability in the next five years.

Critical Thinking

Risk

Complex Problem Solving

Risk

Strategic Planning

Risk

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Technology Used

Tools, software, and technological systems you use in your work.

9/20
Accounting software
Document management software
Spreadsheet software
Data base user interface and query software
Analytical or scientific software
Financial analysis software
Data base reporting software
Project management software
Sales and marketing software
Advanced AI Tools
Machine Learning Platforms
Predictive Analytics Software

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Expert Insights

Expert comments on the job, click on the expert to see their answers.

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What to do next?

Your job faces a moderate automation threat. A few timely moves can put you back in the safe zone. Choose your strategy below:

Recommended for Mid Risk:

  • • Upskill: Develop skills that complement AI rather than compete with it
  • • Use AI: Master AI tools to increase your efficiency and value
  • • Pivot Smart: Consider transitioning to roles that require human judgment and creativity
  • • Stay Alert: Get notified of industry changes that could affect your role

Each tab contains curated resources designed to help you take the next step. More resources will be added over time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Based on our analysis, a Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products has a 56% AI risk score, which is considered mid risk. While some tasks in this role may be automated, the profession as a whole is moderately vulnerable from complete replacement. The key is understanding which specific aspects of your job are most vulnerable, some of which are shown on this page.

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