Online Sellers and E-commerce Merchants
Official O*NET title: Online Merchants (13-1199.06)
Also called: ecommerce, e-commerce, amazon seller, shopify, etsy seller
Do you do this at work?
Answer each card — it takes about a minute.
Do you do this at work?
Compose descriptions of merchandise for posting to online storefront, auction sites, or other shopping Web sites
Swipe right for yes, left for not me. On a keyboard: → yes, ← not me, Z undo. +2 XP per answer.
How AI is changing online sellers and e-commerce merchants work
13 of 24 measurable main tasks for this job show up in real AI-use data, so we rate it Red (lots of AI use) — 54%.
This shows where people already use AI, not whether the job will disappear. How we measure this.
Tasks in this job and recorded AI use
- Compose descriptions of merchandise for posting to online storefront, auction sites, or other shopping Web sites (main task) — a lot of recorded AI use
- Compose images of products, using video or still cameras, lighting equipment, props, or photo or video editing software (main task) — a lot of recorded AI use
- Collaborate with search engine shopping specialists to place marketing content in desired online locations (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Develop or revise business plans for online business, emphasizing factors such as product line, pricing, inventory, or marketing strategy (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Prepare or organize online storefront marketing material (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Investigate products or markets to determine areas for opportunity or viability for merchandising specific products, using online or offline sources (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Promote products in online communities through weblog or discussion-forum postings, e-mail marketing programs, or online advertising (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Correspond with online customers via electronic mail, telephone, or other electronic messaging to address questions or complaints about products, policies, or shipping methods (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Determine location for product listings to maximize exposure to online traffic (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Measure and analyze Web site usage data to maximize search engine returns or refine customer interfaces (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Disclose merchant information and terms and policies of transactions in online or offline materials (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Purchase new or used items from online or physical sources for resale via retail or auction Web site (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Calculate revenue, sales, and expenses, using financial accounting or spreadsheet software (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Fill customer orders by packaging sold items and documentation for direct shipping or by transferring orders to manufacturers or third-party distributors (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Receive and process payments from customers, using electronic transaction services (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Create, manage, or automate orders or invoices, using order management or invoicing software (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Deliver e-mail confirmation of completed transactions and shipment (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Determine and set product prices (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Calculate purchase subtotals, taxes, and shipping costs for submission to customers (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Upload digital media (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Cancel orders based on customer requests or inventory or delivery problems (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Order or purchase merchandise to maintain optimal inventory levels (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Create or maintain database of customer accounts (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Maintain inventory of shipping supplies (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Put in place security practices to preserve assets, minimize liabilities, or make sure customer privacy, using parallel servers, hardware redundancy, fail-safe technology, information encryption, or firewalls — a lot of recorded AI use
- Design customer interface of online storefront, using web programming or e-commerce software — some recorded AI use
- Create or distribute offline promotional material — some recorded AI use
- Integrate online retailing strategy with physical or catalogue retailing operations — some recorded AI use
- Select and purchase technical web services — no recorded AI use
- Transfer digital media — no recorded AI use
- Devise, select, or purchase domain name and web address — no recorded AI use
- Start online auctions through auction hosting sites or auction management software — no recorded AI use
- Investigate sources — no recorded AI use
- Participate in online forums or conferences to stay abreast of online retailing trends, techniques, or security threats — no recorded AI use
Tasks: O*NET 31.0. AI use: Anthropic Economic Index (exact or close text match).
Your first steps (guidance)
- Week 1: Open a free AI assistant and say hello. Follow our “Getting started with AI” guide. Ask it one simple question about your work.
- Week 2: Use AI on one task you do often. Try the prompt for: “Compose descriptions of merchandise for posting to online storefront, auction sites, or other shopping Web sites”. Try the prompt for: “Compose images of products, using video or still cameras, lighting equipment, props, or photo or video editing software”.
Tick your own tasks above to get a plan based on what you really do. The first 2 weeks are free; Premium (coming soon) adds weeks 3–12. New to AI? Read our beginner’s guide.
Questions about AI and online sellers and e-commerce merchants
Will AI replace online sellers and e-commerce merchants?
Our data can’t predict job losses, and we don’t try to. What it does show: 13 of the 24 main tasks for this job match tasks people already use AI for (Anthropic Economic Index), giving a Red rating (lots of AI use). Using AI on a task is not the same as AI doing the whole job, and 17 of the 34 listed tasks show no recorded AI use yet.
Which online seller tasks is AI used for most?
In the data, the most AI use among this job’s tasks is for: compose descriptions of merchandise for posting to online storefront, auction sites, or other shopping web sites; put in place security practices to preserve assets, minimize liabilities, or make sure customer privacy, using parallel servers, hardware redundancy, fail-safe technology, information encryption, or firewalls; compose images of products, using video or still cameras, lighting equipment, props, or photo or video editing software.
Which online seller tasks show little or no AI use?
For example: fill customer orders by packaging sold items and documentation for direct shipping or by transferring orders to manufacturers or third-party distributors; receive and process payments from customers, using electronic transaction services; create, manage, or automate orders or invoices, using order management or invoicing software. These are good places to keep building your own skills.
How does this job compare to others?
In Microsoft Research’s “Working with AI” study, this job’s AI applicability score is equal to or higher than 73% of the occupations they scored. That measures overlap with AI chat use, not risk of job loss.
How can a online seller start learning AI?
Start small: open a free AI assistant, try it on one task you do often, and always check facts and numbers yourself. The plan on this page is guidance, not professional advice.
See how this job ranks
Online Sellers and E-commerce Merchants ranks #109 of 572 jobs for the share of main tasks with AI use (#1 = most), and #6 of 31 in Finance.
Related jobs
- Will AI change talent agents and managers?
- Will AI change insurance claims adjusters?
- Will AI change car insurance appraisers?
- Will AI change compliance officers?
- Will AI change cost estimators?
- Will AI change hr specialists?
- Will AI change marketing managers?
- Will AI change sales managers?
- Will AI change wholesale and retail buyers?
- Will AI change market research analysts?
- Will AI change sustainability specialists?
- See all jobs