Can Agents Work?

Jobs / Management and business operations / 13-1023.00

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 semifinished materials for manufacturing. May negotiate contracts.

US jobs
Not reported by BLS
Job family
Management and business operations

Can agents do the work of purchasing agents, except wholesale, retail, and farm products?

We read the evidence for the whole job family, Management and business operations: Some tasks (first measured in the last 12 months)

Agents complete 20% or more of the tasks (or projects) on a direct benchmark.

Evidence: SOP-Bench, 72.4% of tasks completed.

29% of this occupation's work, by O*NET work activities, is measured by a direct benchmark.

  • 12%Monitor resources or inventoriesMeasured
  • 9%Purchase goods or servicesMeasured
  • 8%Obtain information about goods or servicesNot measured
  • 7%Communicate with others about business strategiesNot measured
  • 7%Assess characteristics or impacts of regulations or policiesNot measured
  • 6%Develop organizational policies, systems, or processesNot measured
  • 6%Develop technical specifications for products or operationsNot measured
  • 6%Analyze business or financial dataNot measured

Benchmarks for this occupation

These benchmarks name this occupation in their job mapping.

Direct evidence

Work benchmarks mapped primary to this family. They set the step when they report how many tasks agents complete.

Benchmarks for the job family

These cover work in management and business operations, not always this occupation's tasks.

Direct evidence

Work benchmarks mapped primary to this family. They set the step when they report how many tasks agents complete.

  • AutomationBenchby ZapierTask level · Pass rate (task_completed_correctly)
    51.3%Gemini 4 Argon (High) · 30 Sep 2026
    Emerging
  • SOP-Benchby AmazonTask level · Task success rate
    72.4%Claude 4 Opus (ReAct agent) · 23 Feb 2026
    Strong

Also relevant

These benchmarks cover part of this family's work, or have no result yet. They do not set its step.

Context only

These benchmarks span many occupations, or they test how agents behave. They give context but do not set the step.

Typical tasks

From O*NET 31.0. Core tasks first. Few of these tasks have a benchmark today.

  • Monitor and follow applicable laws and regulations.
  • Purchase the highest quality merchandise at the lowest possible price and in correct amounts.
  • Formulate policies and procedures for bid proposals and procurement of goods and services.
  • Prepare purchase orders, solicit bid proposals, and review requisitions for goods and services.
  • Write and review product specifications, maintaining a working technical knowledge of the goods or services to be purchased.
  • Analyze price proposals, financial reports, and other data and information to determine reasonable prices.
  • Hire, train, or supervise purchasing clerks, buyers, and expediters.
  • Research and evaluate suppliers, based on price, quality, selection, service, support, availability, reliability, production and distribution capabilities, and the supplier's reputation and history.
  • Evaluate and monitor contract performance to ensure compliance with contractual obligations and to determine need for changes.
  • Negotiate, renegotiate, and administer contracts with suppliers, vendors, and other representatives.
  • Study sales records and inventory levels of current stock to develop strategic purchasing programs that facilitate employee access to supplies.
  • Confer with staff, users, and vendors to discuss defective or unacceptable goods or services and determine corrective action.
Other job titles for this occupation (39)

Buyer · Contract Administrator (Contract Admin) · Procurement and Contracting Administrator (Procurement and Contracting Admin) · Procurement and Contracting Buyer · Procurement Official · Procurement Specialist · Purchasing Administrator (Purchasing Admin) · Purchasing Agent · Purchasing and Contracts Coordinator · Contract Analyst · Contract Specialist · Contractor Buyer · Contracts Manager · Equipment, Supplies, and Tools Purchasing Agent · Fuel Agent · Fuel Buyer · General Purchasing Agent · Log Buyer · Lumber Buyer · Media Buyer · Ore Buyer · Price Analyst · Print Buyer · Procurement Agent · Procurement Analyst · Procurement Coordinator · Procurement Engineer · Pulpwood Buyer · Pulpwood Contractor · Purchaser · Purchasing Coordinator · Purchasing Specialist · Railroad Purchasing Agent · Replenishment Buyer · Sourcing Specialist · Subcontract Administrator (Subcontract Admin) · Subcontract Associate · Timber Buyer · Tools, Supplies, and Equipment Purchasing Agent