A technical product specialist is in charge of providing technical support to an organization’s sales process. Typically, a technical product specialist will be asked to demonstrate the features and benefits of the product being sold by sales representatives who are responsible for generating new business. This specialist’s responsibilities include assisting salespeople in effectively positioning various products and, as a result, generating new business from potential customers.
Working with the sales team to understand and analyze the customer’s needs, as well as creating a course of action that will meet the customer’s needs while also meeting the employer’s objectives, are the two main focuses of a technical product specialist’s position. The majority of technical product specialists are involved in the entire life cycle of a product, from conception to market introduction. As a result, this person should have strong interpersonal skills, as the specialist will frequently be required to work with a diverse group of people from various departments and organizations in order to meet the company’s and customer’s needs.
Monitoring the product offerings of competitors in the marketplace is also part of the technical product specialist’s responsibilities. They will have a better understanding of how to position their products against those of the competition if they study the market on a regular basis. Product specialists are also helpful in recommending updates and changes to a product so that it can compete more effectively in the marketplace.
A bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related technical field, such as engineering or information systems, is required for those interested in becoming specialists in this field. In addition to a formal education, those in this position must be knowledgeable about a wide range of software and hardware technologies. This specialist should also be able to give product presentations and answer any technical questions about a specific product.
A technical product specialist is in the same class as a sales engineer, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, and their job titles and responsibilities are interchangeable. As of 2008, the middle half of product specialists earned between $63,000 and $108,000 USD per year, which includes both salary and commissions. Technical product specialists with the most experience typically earn more than $136,000 USD per year.