Thanks for the feedback! I have moved to the path of Product Management, and at the same time am responsible for driving sales for few key customers. So I am getting the best of both worlds now! Not gonna lie, Product Management is very challenging but hey, challenges help you grow :)
Thanks for the feedback! I have moved to the path of Product Management, and at the same time am responsible for driving sales for few key customers. So I am getting the best of both worlds now! Not gonna lie, Product Management is very challenging but hey, challenges help you grow :)
I believe that it will give you a more in depth view of the product or products that you are responsible for. Most product manager positions also have responsibility for forecasting demand for their products. That can be monthly as well as annually and longer. Another responsibility is analyzing the current and future industry trends to determine the future needs of the end users of your products. Also to keep ahead of your completion. That includes enhancements or specification changes to existing products and the need for a totally new designs. Because of those responsibilities a product manager generally works closely with engineering, sales and other areas of marketing.
Successful product manager experience working for an OEM can lead to promotions and added responsibilities. In my over 40 years in this industry I have seen successful product managers promoted to many higher positions in large MHE companies, including to the V.P. Level.
If you want to go back to sales it can help you there as well. You will have broadened your knowledge of your product as well as your competitors and will be well prepared to use that knowledge in various sales opportunities.
Keep in mind that if a career in sales is what you ultimately want to pursue that product knowledge is important but not all you need to be successful in MHE sales. Understanding the customer's needs by investigating the problems that the specific industry the customer is part of faces as well as determining what unique problems your customer is experiencing including any future changes are equally important. Taking that information and being able to devise a solution that will address those issues and provide cost savings as well as increasing productivity and meeting the customers targeted ROI is even more important.
MHE sales can be extremely lucrative if you focus on what is important to the customer and use your products, possibly integrated with other products or services, and sell the solution. Thinking of yourself as a consultant more than a salesperson and approaching each opportunity that way is the key to sales success in the MHE industry today.
I wish you good luck whichever path you choose!