BLOG: Will AI help inventory clerks or replace them?
Siȃn Hemming-Metcalfe of Inventory Base says professionals must evolve as AI reshapes expectations for speed, transparency and compliance.
AI is reshaping the role of inventory clerks, according to a leading voice in property reporting technology.
Siȃn Hemming-Metcalfe, Operations Director at Inventory Base and head of the Inventory Base Academy, says artificial intelligence is already streamlining inventory workflows, improving compliance, and redefining how agents and landlords view reporting services.
She also claims that AI will not replace people in these roles, but force them to rethink their skillset and approach.
“The ‘AI co-pilot’ is in full swing here,” said Siȃn. “BaseAI takes on the grind… leaving me to focus where I actually add value: judgement, context, and client conversations. This isn’t about making things ‘a bit quicker’ – it fundamentally changes how landlords and agents see us.”
She warned that those avoiding AI tools risk becoming obsolete: “Those still avoiding these tools? You’re not behind, you’re fading out of relevance.”
With the Renters’ Reform Bill and Fitness for Human Habitation legislation increasing compliance pressure, AI is already proving useful for catching errors before disputes arise, but human oversight remains critical.
“AI lies. Not maliciously – it’s simply overconfident and context-blind,” she said. “If you trust it blindly, it will drag your credibility down with it.”
Individual evolution
Clerks, she said, now need a broader skillset: “Digital literacy is your entry ticket… What really sets people apart today are soft skills: clear communication, strategic thinking, and the ability to turn raw data into advice clients can actually use.”
Paper-based reports were also described as a liability in today’s compliance environment. “They’re not charming or ‘classic’. They’re a liability,” says Siȃn. “Clients expect transparency as standard now, and AI delivers it in ways paper never could.”
Looking ahead, she said the profession is shifting towards more strategic, data-informed roles: “Clients no longer want a checklist of faults. They want clarity, context, and guidance.”
This interview is in association with Assist Inventories.
