Will AI replace Retail Salespersons?
AI can do 61% of the work Retail Salespersons do at least twice as fast. People already use it for 5 of their 24 tasks, while 9 more are ready but barely used so far. Robots can technically handle 7 physical tasks. 3 still need a person.
AI is already doing this5 · 35% of time
People already use AI for these tasks in real work, based on Anthropic's analysis of how Claude is used.
- Recommend, select, and help locate or obtain merchandise based on customer needs and desires.Mostly automated15% of time
- Ticket, arrange, and display merchandise to promote sales.Mostly automated10% of time
- Answer questions regarding the store and its merchandise.Mostly automated6% of time
- Describe merchandise and explain use, operation, and care of merchandise to customers.Mostly automated5% of time
- Rent merchandise to customers.Mostly assistedunder 1% of time
AI could do this next9 · 26% of time
AI can speed these up by at least half, but real use has not caught up yet. These are next in line.
- Compute sales prices, total purchases, and receive and process cash or credit payment.13% of time
- Help customers try on or fit merchandise.3% of time
- Maintain knowledge of current sales and promotions, policies regarding payment and exchanges, and security practices.2% of time
- Maintain records related to sales.2% of time
- Prepare sales slips or sales contracts.2% of time
- Place special orders or call other stores to find desired items.2% of time
- Sell or arrange for delivery, insurance, financing, or service contracts for merchandise.2% of time
- Estimate quantity and cost of merchandise required, such as paint or floor covering.2% of time
- Estimate cost of repair or alteration of merchandise.under 1% of time
Robots can technically do this7 · 27% 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.
- Inventory stock and requisition new stock.Robots: structured workplaces6% of time
- Clean shelves, counters, and tables.Robots: purpose built settings5% of time
- Open and close cash registers, performing tasks such as counting money, separating charge slips, coupons, and vouchers, balancing cash drawers, and making deposits.Robots: structured workplaces3% of time
- Demonstrate use or operation of merchandise.Robots: purpose built settings3% of time
- Exchange merchandise for customers and accept returns.Robots: purpose built settings3% of time
- Bag or package purchases and wrap gifts.Robots: purpose built settings3% of time
- Prepare merchandise for purchase or rental.Robots: purpose built settings3% of time
Still needs a person3 · 11% 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.
- Greet customers and ascertain what each customer wants or needs.10% of time
- Watch for and recognize security risks and thefts and know how to prevent or handle these situations.2% of time
- Estimate and quote trade-in allowances.under 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 do most of this work faster, but a real part of the job still needs a person. People in this job already use it heavily. The people who learn which tasks to hand off will pull ahead.
What to do next
- Do the 5 tasks AI is already handling with AI yourself. Your peers already are, and it is quickly becoming the baseline.
- Get ahead on the 9 tasks AI could do next. These move as tools improve, so learning them early pays off.
- Keep an eye on the 7 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.
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