Will AI replace Parts Salespersons?
AI can do 38% of the work Parts Salespersons do at least twice as fast. Real use has not caught up: none of their tasks show up in real AI use yet, but AI could speed up 7 of them. Robots can technically handle 9 physical tasks. 3 still need a person.
AI is already doing this0 · 0% of time
People already use AI for these tasks in real work, based on Anthropic's analysis of how Claude is used.
- Real AI use has not reached any of this job's tasks yet.
AI could do this next7 · 38% of time
AI can speed these up by at least half, but real use has not caught up yet. These are next in line.
- Receive and fill telephone orders for parts.11% of time
- Assist customers, such as responding to customer complaints and updating them about back-ordered parts.8% of time
- Receive payment or obtain credit authorization.7% of time
- Prepare sales slips or sales contracts.5% of time
- Advise customers on substitution or modification of parts when identical replacements are not available.3% of time
- Discuss use and features of various parts, based on knowledge of machines or equipment.3% of time
- Manage shipments by researching shipping methods or costs and tracking packages.3% of time
Robots can technically do this9 · 43% of time
Physical tasks that today's robots can perform in at least some settings. Robots are cost competitive for very few tasks so far, so this change moves slower.
- Fill customer orders from stock, and place orders when requested items are out of stock.Robots: purpose built settings12% of time
- Locate and label parts, and maintain inventory of stock.Robots: purpose built settings9% of time
- Mark and store parts in stockrooms, according to prearranged systems.Robots: purpose built settings5% of time
- Examine returned parts for defects, and exchange defective parts or refund money.Robots: purpose built settings4% of time
- Pick up and deliver parts.Robots: structured workplaces4% of time
- Maintain and clean work and inventory areas.Robots: purpose built settings4% of time
- Place new merchandise on display.Robots: purpose built settings3% of time
- Demonstrate equipment to customers, and explain functioning of equipment.Robots: purpose built settings1% of time
- Measure parts, using precision measuring instruments, to determine whether similar parts may be machined to required sizes.Robots: purpose built settings1% of time
Still needs a person3 · 18% of time
No real AI use, no proven AI speedup and no robot that can do it yet. This is the part of the job to build on.
- Read catalogs, microfiche viewers, or computer displays to determine replacement part stock numbers and prices.9% of time
- Determine replacement parts required, according to inspections of old parts, customer requests, or customers' descriptions of malfunctions.8% of time
- Repair parts or equipment.1% of time
Your week is not the average
Describe what you actually do and get a personal report: your own tasks, what AI can already do, what stays yours and a 90 day plan.
What this means
AI can speed up parts of this job, mostly the paperwork and information work around it. The core still depends on hands, presence or relationships. Robots are the other change to watch: they can technically do 54% of the working time.
What to do next
- Get ahead on the 7 tasks AI could do next. These move as tools improve, so learning them early pays off.
- Keep an eye on the 9 physical tasks robots can technically do. Cost keeps most robots out of work today, so this shift is slower.
- Build on the 3 tasks that stay human. This is where your judgment, skill and relationships matter most.
Related jobs
Get the weekly brief
One short email a week on how AI is changing work, including jobs like this one.