Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products
Purchase machinery, equipment, tools, parts, supplies, or services necessary for the operation of an establishment. Purchase raw or semi-finished materials for manufacturing.
How AI Impacts Each Task
19 tasks analyzed
Prepare purchase orders, solicit bid proposals, and review requisitions for goods and services.
Purchase the highest quality merchandise at the lowest possible price and in correct amounts.
Monitor and follow applicable laws and regulations.
Negotiate, renegotiate, and administer contracts with suppliers, vendors, and other representatives.
Research and evaluate suppliers, based on price, quality, selection, service, support, availability, reliability, production and distribution capabilities, and the supplier's reputation and history.
Analyze price proposals, financial reports, and other data and information to determine reasonable prices.
Maintain and review computerized or manual records of purchased items, costs, deliveries, product performance, and inventories.
Write and review product specifications, maintaining a working technical knowledge of the goods or services to be purchased.
Formulate policies and procedures for bid proposals and procurement of goods and services.
Evaluate and monitor contract performance to ensure compliance with contractual obligations and to determine need for changes.
Monitor shipments to ensure that goods come in on time, and resolve problems related to undelivered goods.
Hire, train, or supervise purchasing clerks, buyers, and expediters.
Review catalogs, industry periodicals, directories, trade journals, and Internet sites and consult with other department personnel to locate necessary goods and services.
Monitor changes affecting supply and demand, tracking market conditions, price trends, or futures markets.
Confer with staff, users, and vendors to discuss defective or unacceptable goods or services and determine corrective action.
Study sales records and inventory levels of current stock to develop strategic purchasing programs that facilitate employee access to supplies.
Interview vendors and visit suppliers' plants and distribution centers to examine and learn about products, services, and prices.
Arrange the payment of duty and freight charges.
Attend meetings, trade shows, conferences, conventions, and seminars to network with people in other purchasing departments.
| Task | AI Capability | Risk | Time % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prepare purchase orders, solicit bid proposals, and review requisitions for goods and services. | 57.07Observed | 72.0% | 10% | |
| Purchase the highest quality merchandise at the lowest possible price and in correct amounts. | 60Estimated | 51.0% | 8% | |
| Monitor and follow applicable laws and regulations. | 30.1Observed | 61.2% | 4% | |
| Negotiate, renegotiate, and administer contracts with suppliers, vendors, and other representatives. | 58.05Observed | 38.2% | 10% | |
| Research and evaluate suppliers, based on price, quality, selection, service, support, availability, reliability, production and distribution capabilities, and the supplier's reputation and history. | 65Estimated | 53.0% | 8% | |
| Analyze price proposals, financial reports, and other data and information to determine reasonable prices. | 42.93Observed | 44.2% | 8% | |
| Maintain and review computerized or manual records of purchased items, costs, deliveries, product performance, and inventories. | 95Estimated | 87.2% | 7% | |
| Write and review product specifications, maintaining a working technical knowledge of the goods or services to be purchased. | 70Estimated | 55.0% | 5% | |
| Formulate policies and procedures for bid proposals and procurement of goods and services. | 70.7Observed | 55.3% | 4% | |
| Evaluate and monitor contract performance to ensure compliance with contractual obligations and to determine need for changes. | 75Estimated | 57.0% | 5% | |
| Monitor shipments to ensure that goods come in on time, and resolve problems related to undelivered goods. | 80Estimated | 81.2% | 6% | |
| Hire, train, or supervise purchasing clerks, buyers, and expediters. | 20Estimated | 23.0% | 4% | |
| Review catalogs, industry periodicals, directories, trade journals, and Internet sites and consult with other department personnel to locate necessary goods and services. | 42.67Observed | 66.3% | 4% | |
| Monitor changes affecting supply and demand, tracking market conditions, price trends, or futures markets. | 49.78Observed | 46.9% | 4% | |
| Confer with staff, users, and vendors to discuss defective or unacceptable goods or services and determine corrective action. | 30Estimated | 27.0% | 4% | |
| Study sales records and inventory levels of current stock to develop strategic purchasing programs that facilitate employee access to supplies. | 70Estimated | 55.0% | 3% | |
| Interview vendors and visit suppliers' plants and distribution centers to examine and learn about products, services, and prices. | 10Estimated | 19.0% | 2% | |
| Arrange the payment of duty and freight charges. | 95Estimated | 87.2% | 2% | |
| Attend meetings, trade shows, conferences, conventions, and seminars to network with people in other purchasing departments. | 5Estimated | 17.0% | 2% |
Skill Impact Analysis
AI-Vulnerable Skills (6)
High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Programming is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
AI-Resistant Skills (11)
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Persuasion is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Negotiation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Instructing is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Recommended Courses
Courses matched to Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products skill gaps, ranked by relevance to your displacement risk profile.
Get personalized recommendations. Answer a few questions about your experience and skills to get course suggestions tailored specifically to you.
Upskill to Reduce Risk
Courses addressing your most AI-vulnerable skills
SQL Fundamentals Skill Track
by DataCamp
Estimated Impact
AI-Augmentation Tools
Learn to work alongside AI and boost your productivity
Creative Writing Specialization
by Wesleyan University
Estimated Impact
Strengthen Your Edge
Double down on skills AI can't replicate
Leading People and Teams Specialization
by University of Michigan
Estimated Impact
We may earn a commission when you enroll through our links, at no extra cost to you. This helps fund the Takeover Tracker.
Risk reduction and salary impact are estimates based on skill gap analysis, course relevance, and labor market data. Actual results vary by individual circumstance.
Alternate Career Paths
See all transitionsCost Estimators
37%Median salary: $77,070
Higher risk than 72% of other occupations
First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers
33%Median salary: $84,130
Higher risk than 54% of other occupations
Logisticians
30%Median salary: $80,880
Higher risk than 37% of other occupations
Logistics Analysts
40%Median salary: $80,880
Higher risk than 82% of other occupations
Logistics Managers
32%Median salary: $102,010
Higher risk than 50% of other occupations
Management Analysts
30%Median salary: $101,190
Higher risk than 38% of other occupations
Purchasing Managers
34%Median salary: $139,510
Higher risk than 60% of other occupations
Risk Management Specialists
38%Median salary: $80,190
Higher risk than 77% of other occupations
Supply Chain Managers
32%Median salary: $136,550
Higher risk than 51% of other occupations
Transportation Managers
28%Median salary: $102,010
Higher risk than 29% of other occupations
Score History
Risk score over 3 scoring runs
overall change
Education & Training
Percentage of workers at each education and training level
Education Level
Prior Experience Needed
Work experience required to enter this job
Training Provided After Hiring
How long it typically takes to learn on the job
Related News
Recent articles about AI affecting this occupation
Gap deploys AI to automate supply chain tracking and supplier coordination
The retail giant is implementing an AI layer to manage supplier data and trace product origins. This automation reduces the need for manual supply chain auditing and shifts logistics roles toward data analysis and system oversight.
Disney partner Magnite launches AI agent to automate media buying roles
The advertising tech firm is rolling out an automated tool to handle ad purchasing tasks traditionally done by human media buyers. This partnership signals that even specialized agency roles are vulnerable to AI disruption.
Anthropic's Agent Marketplace Previews the Future of Automated Procurement
Bots successfully negotiated real deals for actual goods using real money in a closed experiment. This autonomous trading environment demonstrates how B2B sales and purchasing roles could soon be fully delegated to software.
CNN prepares for AI agents to automate media buying and ad trading
The network is testing how LLMs interpret its properties, preparing for a Q4 shift where AI agents—not human media buyers—control advertising budgets. This signals a major automation threat to ad sales roles.
Last scored March 14, 2026 · Based on BLS employment data and O*NET task analysis