Will AI replace Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products?

AI can do 86% of the work Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products do at least twice as fast. People already use it for 13 of their 33 tasks, while 16 more are ready but barely used so far. Robots can technically handle 1 physical task. 3 still need a person.

AI is already doing this13 · 57% of time

People already use AI for these tasks in real work, based on Anthropic's analysis of how Claude is used.

  • Contact new or existing customers to discuss how specific products or services can meet their needs.Mostly automated10% of time
  • Answer customers' questions about products, prices, availability, or credit terms.Mostly automated5% of time
  • Negotiate prices or terms of sales or service agreements.Mostly automated5% of time
  • Maintain customer records, using automated systems.Mostly automated5% of time
  • Collaborate with colleagues to exchange information, such as selling strategies or marketing information.Mostly automated5% of time
  • Prepare sales presentations or proposals to explain product specifications or applications.Mostly automated5% of time
  • Identify prospective customers, using business directories, leads from existing clients, participation in organizations, or trade show or conference attendance.Mostly assisted5% of time
  • Provide customers with ongoing technical support.Mostly automated4% of time
  • Prepare and submit sales contracts for orders.Mostly automated4% of time
  • Select or assist customers in selecting products based on customer needs, product specifications, and applicable regulations.Mostly automated4% of time
  • Attend sales or trade meetings or read related publications to obtain information about market conditions, business trends, environmental regulations, or industry developments.Mostly automated4% of time
  • Inform customers of estimated delivery schedules, service contracts, warranties, or other information pertaining to purchased products.Mostly automated2% of time
  • Study documentation or other information for new scientific or technical products.Mostly automated2% of time

AI could do this next16 · 29% of time

AI can speed these up by at least half, but real use has not caught up yet. These are next in line.

  • Complete expense reports, sales reports, or other paperwork.5% of time
  • Quote prices, credit terms, or other bid specifications.4% of time
  • Emphasize product features, based on analyses of customers' needs and on technical knowledge of product capabilities and limitations.4% of time
  • Compute customer's installation or production costs and estimate savings from new services, products, or equipment.2% of time
  • Consult with engineers regarding technical problems with products.2% of time
  • Verify that delivery schedules meet project deadlines.2% of time
  • Advise customers on product usage to improve production.2% of time
  • Demonstrate the operation or use of technical or scientific products.2% of time
  • Provide feedback to product design teams so that products can be tailored to clients' needs.1% of time
  • Arrange for installation and testing of products or machinery.1% of time
  • Present information to customers about the energy efficiency or environmental impact of scientific or technical products.1% of time
  • Initiate sales campaigns to meet sales and production expectations.1% of time
  • Visit establishments, such as pharmacies, to determine product sales.under 1% of time
  • Inform customers about issues related to responsible use and disposal of products, such as waste reduction or product or byproduct recycling or disposal.under 1% of time
  • Verify accuracy of materials lists.under 1% of time
  • Verify customer credit ratings.under 1% of time

Robots can technically do this1 · 1% 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.

  • Stock or distribute resources, such as samples or promotional or educational materials.Robots: purpose built settings1% of time

Still needs a person3 · 13% 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.

  • Visit establishments to evaluate needs or to promote product or service sales.12% of time
  • Sell service contracts for technical or scientific products.1% of time
  • Sell technical and scientific products that are environmentally sound or designed for environmental remediation.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.

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What this means

AI can already do almost all of this work at least twice as fast. People in this job already use it heavily. Expect the role to shift toward deciding what to do, checking AI's work and owning the result.

What to do next

  • Do the 13 tasks AI is already handling with AI yourself. Your peers already are, and it is quickly becoming the baseline.
  • Get ahead on the 16 tasks AI could do next. These move as tools improve, so learning them early pays off.
  • Keep an eye on the 1 physical task 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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