Takeover Tracker
31%medium risk

Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products

Sell goods for wholesalers or manufacturers to businesses or groups of individuals. Work requires substantial knowledge of items sold.

Higher risk than 45% of occupations
Checking for existing plan...

How AI Impacts Each Task

20 tasks analyzed

Contact regular and prospective customers to demonstrate products, explain product features, and solicit orders.

Risk: 33.1%AI: 45.25ObservedTime: 15%

Recommend products to customers, based on customers' needs and interests.

Risk: 40.3%AI: 63.3ObservedTime: 10%

Answer customers' questions about products, prices, availability, product uses, and credit terms.

Risk: 36.6%AI: 53.95ObservedTime: 10%

Estimate or quote prices, credit or contract terms, warranties, and delivery dates.

Risk: 68.2%AI: 47.52ObservedTime: 5%

Train customers' employees to operate and maintain new equipment.

Risk: 21.0%AI: 15EstimatedTime: 2%

Consult with clients after sales or contract signings to resolve problems and to provide ongoing support.

Risk: 26.5%AI: 28.67ObservedTime: 8%

Provide customers with product samples and catalogs.

Risk: 56.9%AI: 59.72ObservedTime: 3%

Prepare sales contracts and order forms.

Risk: 68.7%AI: 48.85ObservedTime: 5%

Identify prospective customers by using business directories, following leads from existing clients, participating in organizations and clubs, and attending trade shows and conferences.

Risk: 33.6%AI: 46.55ObservedTime: 8%

Prepare drawings, estimates, and bids that meet specific customer needs.

Risk: 53.0%AI: 65EstimatedTime: 4%

Negotiate details of contracts and payments.

Risk: 27.0%AI: 30EstimatedTime: 5%

Monitor market conditions, product innovations, and competitors' products, prices, and sales.

Risk: 47.7%AI: 51.8ObservedTime: 4%

Forward orders to manufacturers.

Risk: 88.0%AI: 97EstimatedTime: 2%

Negotiate with retail merchants to improve product exposure, such as shelf positioning and advertising.

Risk: 23.0%AI: 20EstimatedTime: 3%

Perform administrative duties, such as preparing sales budgets and reports, keeping sales records, and filing expense account reports.

Risk: 66.8%AI: 43.88ObservedTime: 5%

Plan, assemble, and stock product displays in retail stores, or make recommendations to retailers regarding product displays, promotional programs, and advertising.

Risk: 30.3%AI: 53.25ObservedTime: 3%

Check stock levels and reorder merchandise as necessary.

Risk: 88.0%AI: 97EstimatedTime: 2%

Arrange and direct delivery and installation of products and equipment.

Risk: 76.0%AI: 67EstimatedTime: 2%

Buy products from manufacturers or brokerage firms and distribute them to wholesale and retail clients.

Risk: 76.0%AI: 67EstimatedTime: 2%

Obtain credit information about prospective customers.

Risk: 67.0%AI: 44.45ObservedTime: 2%

Skill Impact Analysis

AI-Vulnerable Skills (6)

Reading Comprehension10%

High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.

Information Ordering5%

Information Ordering is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.

Mathematics10%

Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.

Mathematics10%

Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.

Memorization5%

Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.

Programming15%

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/Flexibility85%

Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Persuasion80%

Persuasion is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Social Perceptiveness90%

Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Negotiation85%

Negotiation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Leadership88%

Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Service Orientation82%

Service Orientation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Coordination70%

Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Complex Problem Solving75%

Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Recommended Courses

Courses matched to Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific 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

DataCampbeginner

SQL Fundamentals Skill Track

by DataCamp

21 hours$25/mo4.7Certificate
Addresses vulnerability: Information Ordering

Estimated Impact

-6.6pt risk+$3K/yr salary

AI-Augmentation Tools

Learn to work alongside AI and boost your productivity

Courserabeginner

Google UX Design Professional Certificate

by Google

~5 months$49/mo4.8Certificate
Enhances AI augmentation: Critical Thinking

Estimated Impact

-5.1pt risk+$4K/yr salary

Strengthen Your Edge

Double down on skills AI can't replicate

Coursera

Inspired Leadership Through Emotional Intelligence

by Case Western Reserve University

32 hours$49/mo4.8Certificate
Strengthens resilience: Social Perceptiveness

Estimated Impact

-3.8pt risk+$4K/yr salary

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.

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Score History

Risk score over 2 scoring runs

-1.1

overall change

Education & Training

Percentage of workers at each education and training level

Education Level

High School Diploma22%
Bachelor's Degree77%

Prior Experience Needed

Work experience required to enter this job

1-3 months1%
3-6 months8%
6 months - 1 year3%
1-2 years7%
2-4 years37%
4-6 years34%
6-8 years3%
Over 10 years7%

Training Provided After Hiring

How long it typically takes to learn on the job

None7%
Up to 1 month26%
1-3 months14%
3-6 months23%
6 months - 1 year25%
1-2 years5%

Related News

Recent articles about AI affecting this occupation

5 articles

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.

TechCrunch AI4d ago

B2B Sales Reps Face Pressure to Balance AI Automation with Buyer Trust

Enterprise sales teams are adopting AI to automate tasks and guide real-time pitches, but risk alienating buyers with impersonal outreach. Reps must now navigate the tension between hitting higher volume metrics and maintaining authentic client relationships.

CX TodayApr 22

AI agents replace human checkout in new era of agentic commerce

E-commerce is shifting toward systems designed entirely for machine-to-machine transactions. This emerging agentic commerce model eliminates the need for human sales reps and checkout staff by allowing AI assistants to negotiate and purchase directly.

Search Engine JournalApr 19

AI Chatbots Reshape B2B Sales Roles as Algorithms Control Vendor Shortlists

New G2 research reveals that AI chatbots are now dictating B2B vendor shortlists, bypassing traditional sales outreach. B2B sales professionals must adapt their strategies as algorithms increasingly replace human-to-human initial pitches.

MarTechApr 17

AI Sales Tool Aims to Eliminate Admin Work for Field Reps

Showpad is rolling out an AI-native tool designed to handle administrative tasks and unify coaching for field sales. This automation threatens traditional sales support roles while requiring reps to adapt to AI-guided performance metrics.

NewsData AI & JobsApr 15

Last scored March 14, 2026 · Based on BLS employment data and O*NET task analysis