Will AI Replace Couriers and Messengers?

Deliver and pick up medical records, lab specimens, and medications to and from hospitals and other medical facilities.

Routine cognitive or manual task with high vulnerability to automation.

Obtain signatures and payments, or arrange for recipients to make payments.

Semi-structured task combining routine and non-routine responsibilities.

Record information, such as items received and delivered and recipients' responses to messages.

Routine cognitive or manual task with high vulnerability to automation.

Receive messages or materials to be delivered, and information on recipients, such as names, addresses, telephone numbers, and delivery instructions, communicated via telephone, two-way radio, or in person.

Semi-structured task combining routine and non-routine responsibilities.

Load vehicles with listed goods, ensuring goods are loaded correctly and taking precautions with hazardous goods.

Semi-structured task combining routine and non-routine responsibilities.

Walk, ride bicycles, drive vehicles, or use public conveyances to reach destinations to deliver messages or materials.

Semi-structured task combining routine and non-routine responsibilities.

Sort items to be delivered according to the delivery route.

Semi-structured task combining routine and non-routine responsibilities.

Deliver messages and items, such as newspapers, documents, and packages, between establishment departments and to other establishments and private homes.

Complex problem-solving, strategic leadership, or high-empathy task requiring human judgment.

Unload and sort items collected along delivery routes.

Semi-structured task combining routine and non-routine responsibilities.

Plan and follow the most efficient routes for delivering goods.

Complex problem-solving, strategic leadership, or high-empathy task requiring human judgment.

Check with home offices after completed deliveries to confirm deliveries and collections and to receive instructions for other deliveries.

Semi-structured task combining routine and non-routine responsibilities.

Perform routine maintenance on delivery vehicles, such as monitoring fluid levels and replenishing fuel.

Complex problem-solving, strategic leadership, or high-empathy task requiring human judgment.

Collect, seal, and stamp outgoing mail, using postage meters and envelope sealers.

Semi-structured task combining routine and non-routine responsibilities.

Use telephone to deliver verbal messages.

Semi-structured task combining routine and non-routine responsibilities.

Perform general office or clerical work, such as filing materials, operating duplicating machines, or running errands.

Complex problem-solving, strategic leadership, or high-empathy task requiring human judgment.