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JOB REPORT / 43-5071 · 11 TASKS

Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks.

Can AI do the work of Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks?

Mostly it works alongside you. Here is what shifts, task by task.

YOUR EXPERIENCE MATTERS

How does this fit your work?

How many tasks do you use AI to assist with at work?

Drag the dot. There’s no wrong answer; it starts at our estimate.

Starting pointOur estimate

The mark shows what’s typical for this job.

The parts of your job AI can already do most of:

  • Compute amounts
  • Record shipment data
  • Determine shipping methods, routes, or rates for materials…

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WHAT WE LOOKED AT

Your job, task by task.

9 of 11 tasks reviewed

This job has 11 core tasks. We went through 9 of them, one at a time.

Task by task, from the work Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks actually do. How we describe AI use in each task is our own read of it, not a measurement of whether AI can replace the job.

  1. TASK 01

    Compute amounts, such as space available, shipping, storage, or demurrage charges, using computer or price list.

    AI DOES

    Runs calculations, looks up rate tables, and fills in charge amounts

    YOU DO

    Verify unusual cases and fix errors before charges go out

  2. TASK 02

    Record shipment data, such as weight, charges, space availability, damages, or discrepancies, for reporting, accounting, or recordkeeping purposes.

    AI DOES

    Reads shipping documents, extracts key data fields, and auto-fills records or spreadsheets

    YOU DO

    Verify physical condition of shipments and catch real-world issues AI can't see

  3. TASK 03

    Determine shipping methods, routes, or rates for materials to be shipped.

    AI DOES

    Compares shipping rates, suggests optimal routes, and flags carrier options instantly

    YOU DO

    Weigh special circumstances, vendor relationships, and urgent exceptions that systems miss

  4. TASK 04

    Compare shipping routes or methods to determine which have the least environmental impact.

    AI DOES

    Pulls emissions data, compares route options, and summarizes environmental trade-offs

    YOU DO

    Weigh cost, speed, and sustainability goals together to make the final call

  5. TASK 05

    Examine shipment contents and compare with records, such as manifests, invoices, or orders, to verify accuracy.

    AI DOES

    Scans and compares digital manifests, invoices, and order records to spot mismatches instantly

    YOU DO

    Physically inspect real items, catch damage, and confirm what's actually in the box

  6. TASK 06

    Confer or correspond with establishment representatives to rectify problems, such as damages, shortages, or nonconformance to specifications.

    AI DOES

    Drafts complaint emails, summarizes discrepancy records, and suggests resolution steps

    YOU DO

    Build trust with vendors and make judgment calls on disputes

  7. TASK 07

    Contact carrier representatives to make arrangements or to issue instructions for shipping and delivery of materials.

    AI DOES

    Drafts emails, looks up carrier contacts, and suggests shipping instructions

    YOU DO

    Handle live calls, negotiate terms, and adapt when shipments go sideways

  8. TASK 08

    Requisition and store shipping materials and supplies to maintain inventory of stock.

    AI DOES

    Monitors stock levels, predicts reorder points, and fills out digital requisition forms

    YOU DO

    Physically count, move, and organize real supplies on shelves

  9. TASK 09SOURCE-BACKED TASK

    Prepare documents, such as work orders, bills of lading, or shipping orders, to route materials.

    AI DOES

    Generates standard forms and populates shipping details

    YOU DO

    Verify routes and handle special cases

    About this analysis

    37% · Methodology: exposure-v1 · Analysis date: unavailable · Confidence: medium

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Data sources and attribution

This page includes information from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. rtwoai has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.

Wage and employment figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (2025). Job outlook is from the BLS Employment Projections program, 2024–34. BLS data are in the public domain. BLS has not reviewed or endorsed this page.

Task collaboration data is from the Anthropic Economic Index, release 2025-03-27, used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Anthropic has not reviewed or endorsed this page.

How we describe AI use in each task is our own characterization, not a measurement of whether AI can replace this job. Microsoft note that their metrics "should not be misconstrued or misrepresented as measuring the ability of AI to replace jobs," and that there is more to an occupation than the sum of its tasks.