Other types of automation should also reduce the demand for order clerks. New inventory control and automatic billing systems allow companies to track inventory and accounts with less help from clerks. An increasing number of companies are using fax machines to receive orders. Data entry keyers enter the information from these faxed orders. Thus order clerks are not even involved in some orders.
Some companies use automated menus that can be accessed with a touch tone phone to receive orders.
Other companies use answering machines. Most order clerk jobs are entry-level positions. Some order clerks are college graduates. Construction supply and other businesses that require specific knowledge are more likely to require a college degree. Employers generally prefer workers who know how to use a computer.