WHEN AI CAN CLICK THE BUTTONS FOR YOU

Computer-using agents are AI systems that interact with software through the same interfaces humans use. No API required.

They combine visual understanding with action-taking abilities:

• •Read what is on screen
• •Understand business context and rules
• •Perform tasks by clicking, typing, and navigating through applications just as you would

HOW THEY WORK

Rather than requiring custom integrations for every system, computer-using agents:

• •Interpret application screens using vision models (VLMs)
• •Understand business context and rules through language models (LLMs)
• •Execute actions by controlling mouse and keyboard inputs
• •Chain together multi-step workflows across different applications

WHERE THEY EXCEL

• •Legacy system automation: When that 20-year-old vendor portal has no API but still needs daily data entry
• •Cross-system processes: Following an order from CRM to ERP to shipping portal to invoice generation, ensuring nothing falls through the cracks
• •Rapid deployment: Setting up automation in days instead of months of integration work
• •Compliance and consistency: Every process follows the same steps and rules, with automatic documentation

A DISTRIBUTION EXAMPLE

Before:

An electrical distributor wants to run a cross-sell campaign:

• •Find contractors who bought Vendor X's conduit (SKU-123) but not the matching fittings (SKU-456) in the past 12 months
• •Check stock in the WMS
• •Pull the correct discount from the current vendor rebate PDF
• •Build a list for marketing to send an offer

Two people spend half a day. Errors creep in when the wrong terms or outdated stock data are used.

After:

• •Sales manager types: "Find contractors who bought SKU-123 but not SKU-456, check stock, apply vendor discount, draft campaign email."
• •Agent sees ERP and WMS screens, reads the vendor PDF, and understands the context
• •It applies pricing rules, validates terms, and chains steps together
• •Presents the customer list, discount tiers, and email draft for approval

OUTCOME

• •Campaign ready in 5 minutes instead of 5 hours
• •No margin leakage from missed vendor terms
• •Sales team spends time on calls, not spreadsheets

REALITY CHECK

These agents work best with structured, predictable interfaces. They can struggle with CAPTCHAs, highly dynamic layouts, or scenarios requiring nuanced human judgment. Most deployments focus on routine, high-volume tasks with human oversight for exceptions.

Other use cases include automated quote generation, vendor program compliance checks, stock rebalancing between branches, and contract renewal preparation.

In 2025, the distributors who lead will be the ones whose AI can click the buttons for them, turning ideas into action instantly.

You have two opportunities: free your teams from slow, repetitive workflows, and empower AI agents inside your systems that work tirelessly, follow every step perfectly, and deliver results in minutes instead of hours.