Business & FinanceO*NET: 13-1022.00
Will AI Replace Wholesale and Retail Buyers, Except Farm Products?
Buy merchandise or commodities, other than farm products, for resale to consumers at the wholesale or retail level, including both durable and nondurable goods. Analyze past buying trends, sales records, price, and quality of merchandise to determine value and yield. Select, order, and authorize payment for merchandise according to contractual agreements. May conduct meetings with sales personnel and introduce new products. May negotiate contracts. Includes assistant wholesale and retail buyers of nonfarm products.
37out of 100
Low Risk
AI Risk Score
37/100
Risk Level
Low
Job Zone
3/5
Medium
Total Tasks Analyzed
10
🤖 What AI Can Do
- ▸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.
👤 What Requires Humans
- ▸Negotiate prices, discount terms, or transportation arrangements with suppliers.
- ▸Collaborate with vendors to obtain or develop desired products.
Task Breakdown
🤖AI Can Automate (3)
- 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.
👤Requires Humans (2)
- Negotiate prices, discount terms, or transportation arrangements with suppliers.
- Collaborate with vendors to obtain or develop desired products.
⚡AI-Assisted (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.
- Recommend mark-up rates, mark-down rates, or merchandise selling prices.
- Inspect merchandise or products to determine quality, value, or yield.
- Conduct sales meetings to introduce new merchandise.
Key Skills Analysis
NegotiationAI-Resistant
Importance: 4.00/5.00
Active Listening
Importance: 3.75/5.00
Speaking
Importance: 3.75/5.00
Critical ThinkingAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.75/5.00
PersuasionAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.75/5.00
Active LearningAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.38/5.00
Judgment and Decision MakingAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.38/5.00
Reading ComprehensionAI-Vulnerable
Importance: 3.25/5.00
Social PerceptivenessAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.25/5.00
Complex Problem SolvingAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.25/5.00
Management of Financial ResourcesAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.25/5.00
MathematicsAI-Vulnerable
Importance: 3.12/5.00
Monitoring
Importance: 3.12/5.00
CoordinationAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.12/5.00
Service OrientationAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.12/5.00
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Frequently Asked Questions
Based on our analysis, Wholesale and Retail Buyers, Except Farm Products have a low risk of AI replacement with a score of 37/100. This role requires significant human skills like creativity, empathy, and complex decision-making that AI cannot easily replicate.
Last updated: 2026-03-28· Data from O*NET 30.2 & Frey/Osborne automation research