A task performed by Online Merchants
Calculate purchase subtotals, taxes, and shipping costs for submission to customers.
Technically, much of it, experts rate AI capability 5/5, but workers don't want it automated (desire 2.7/5). It's an Automation Red Light: proceed with care.
Do you want this task automated?
How much the people who do this task want AI to take it over (avg of 10 workers).
How capable experts rate current AI at this task (avg of 3 experts).
How much human involvement should stay?
The Human Agency Scale (H1–H5) captures how much human direction workers think this task should keep.
Why workers feel the way they do
- Frees up time for higher-value work60%
- It's repetitive20%
- Reduces human error20%
- Helps handle larger scale20%
- It's stressful10%
- It's difficult10%
How to automate this
Doable with technology, but keep a person clearly in charge.
Analyzing & processing data
Let the spreadsheet or a BI tool do the math and the charts.
- 1Set up formulas and pivot tables once, so the numbers you need to calculate purchase subtotals, taxes, and shipping costs for submission to customers recalculate themselves.
- 2Connect a free dashboard so reports refresh themselves (Looker Studio, Power BI).
- 3Use AI to summarise the findings, but keep the numbers in the spreadsheet.
Tools that can help
Know a better way, or spot an error?
Share how you automate this in real life, or correct the data. Reviewed before publishing.
This is 1 of 15 tasks studied for Online Merchants, where workers want 67% of tasks automated.
More Online Merchants tasks
- Create or maintain database of customer accounts.Green Light
- Calculate revenue, sales, and expenses, using financial accounting or spreadsheet software.Green Light
- Deliver e-mail confirmation of completed transactions and shipment.Green Light
- Investigate products or markets to determine areas for opportunity or viability for merchandising specific pr…R&D Opportunity
- Compose descriptions of merchandise for posting to online storefront, auction sites, or other shopping Web si…Green Light
- Cancel orders based on customer requests or inventory or delivery problems.Green Light
Other Red Light tasks
- Keep records of customer interactions or transactions, recording details of inquiries, complaints, or comment…Customer Service Representatives
- Resolve customers' service or billing complaints by performing activities such as exchanging merchandise, ref…Customer Service Representatives
- Inform customers of estimated delivery schedules, service contracts, warranties, or other information pertain…Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products
- Operate computers programmed with accounting software to record, store, and analyze information.Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks
- Read manuals, periodicals, and technical reports to learn how to develop programs that meet staff and user re…Computer Systems Analysts
- Prepare adjusting journal entries.Accountants and Auditors