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Many people predict that middleman jobs/businesses like car salesmen, realtors, insurance agents and brokers will be eliminated because of information technology and changing culture. What is general opinion of these people and do you really think technology can eliminate their jobs?
Personally I feel that they rarely bring any value to either party they serve but add their cost to transactions. Also they being human, bring potential for unfair practices. A lot of such professionals have access to information that common folks usually don't. But once technology makes all such information available to general public, what is the real value they can bring?
Some professions exist because of overly complex laws, regulations and codes. I can imagine professions like lawyer and CPA are going to stay around longer but I think technology can help ease dependence on them as well.
Taking example of how Tesla is trying to sell cars directly to customers, I feel that is the way forward for many of these professions.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
44,585 posts, read 81,206,701 times
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Yes. Already there are fewer car salesmen needed due to the number of people making their deals online. Realtors are still there but most buyers have spent hours doing research online before they ever contact one. Before the internet people had to find a realtor to get any access to homes for sale. I have had the same insurance agent for 23 years, and had to go seem him for various reasons the first few years. Now I don't even call, everything I do with them is thru their mobile App. For this kind of work there will always be a need for some humans, just not as many. It's like the self-service checkout. You need one clerk there to watch and handle any problems, but there used to be 6-8.
Many people predict that middleman jobs/businesses like car salesmen, realtors, insurance agents and brokers will be eliminated because of information technology and changing culture. What is general opinion of these people and do you really think technology can eliminate their jobs?
Personally I feel that they rarely bring any value to either party they serve but add their cost to transactions. Also they being human, bring potential for unfair practices. A lot of such professionals have access to information that common folks usually don't. But once technology makes all such information available to general public, what is the real value they can bring?
Some professions exist because of overly complex laws, regulations and codes. I can imagine professions like lawyer and CPA are going to stay around longer but I think technology can help ease dependence on them as well.
Taking example of how Tesla is trying to sell cars directly to customers, I feel that is the way forward for many of these professions.
IMO stealerships like "Hard Dick" Toyota or "Tom Dick" Nissan also do not bring any value. I would buy a Lexus or an S-Class because of the brand , even if I had to configure and customize online.
And I always wondered why dealerships always had male names.
Many people predict that middleman jobs/businesses like car salesmen, realtors, insurance agents and brokers will be eliminated because of information technology and changing culture. What is general opinion of these people and do you really think technology can eliminate their jobs?
Personally I feel that they rarely bring any value to either party they serve but add their cost to transactions. Also they being human, bring potential for unfair practices. A lot of such professionals have access to information that common folks usually don't. But once technology makes all such information available to general public, what is the real value they can bring?
Some professions exist because of overly complex laws, regulations and codes. I can imagine professions like lawyer and CPA are going to stay around longer but I think technology can help ease dependence on them as well.
Taking example of how Tesla is trying to sell cars directly to customers, I feel that is the way forward for many of these professions.
the state of maine itself................ is the largest employer...... in maine
we have paid for thousands of computers and it systems,,,but still have more state employees than 1980????????? before computers
if we can register our cars online renew our licenses...then why have these departments in buildings?? why have all these employees??
travel agents was the first to go one of them when all were getting pc's
on paper your op makes sense,,,in reality we actually have a worker shortage...
in a severe snowstorm...only "essential" employees are mandated to show up to work,,,thats only 20% of our government!!!!!!
we have to be a bit careful,,,because even tho we can utilize more efficiencies we should still have some decent jobs available
be careful what you wish for..
no jobs.....no population in areas no people, no schools,,,,,and on and on
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
44,585 posts, read 81,206,701 times
Reputation: 57821
Quote:
Originally Posted by mainebrokerman
the state of maine itself................ is the largest employer...... in maine
we have paid for thousands of computers and it systems,,,but still have more state employees than 1980????????? before computers
if we can register our cars online renew our licenses...then why have these departments in buildings?? why have all these employees??
travel agents was the first to go one of them when all were getting pc's
on paper your op makes sense,,,in reality we actually have a worker shortage...
in a severe snowstorm...only "essential" employees are mandated to show up to work,,,thats only 20% of our government!!!!!!
we have to be a bit careful,,,because even tho we can utilize more efficiencies we should still have some decent jobs available
be careful what you wish for..
no jobs.....no population in areas no people, no schools,,,,,and on and on
There are still may people without a computer, without internet, and without bank accounts needed to buy online. They do everything in person with cash or money orders. Bigger government has nothing to do with automation, they save time and just shift the employees to other work.
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