Financial ServicesISCO 2433
Technical sales representative
A technical sales representative is a person who represents a company in selling its products while providing customers with the technical knowledge those products require.
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Rate 5 of the 27 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.
guarantee customer satisfaction
manage schedule of tasks
implement marketing strategies
ensure compliance with legal requirements
answer requests for quotation
About technical sales representative
The representative presents product features and works from product knowledge deep enough to answer a question that is not in the brochure: whether a product fits an existing installation, what it will not do, and which version is the right one for a particular use. Requests for quotation are answered, which means configuring and pricing something that will actually work rather than something that merely sells.
The representative also maintains customer relationships, implements sales strategies and uses product promotion techniques appropriate to a customer who knows their own field.
The representative provides customer follow-up services and implements follow-up actions: checking that the product performed as promised, handling what did not, and staying in contact between orders. The representative has to be credible both in a technical discussion with engineers and in a purchasing meeting. Formal requirements are set by the employer.
European Skills Framework
Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.
Essential (27)
characteristics of productscharacteristics of productsThe tangible characteristics of a product such as its materials, properties and functions, as well as its different applications, features, use and support requirements.sales promotion techniquessales promotion techniquesThe techniques used to persuade customers to purchase a product or a service.product comprehensionproduct comprehensionThe offered products, their functionalities, properties and legal and regulatory requirements.characteristics of servicescharacteristics of servicesThe characteristics of a service that might include having acquired information about its application, function, features, use and support requirements.guarantee customer satisfactionguarantee customer satisfactionHandle customer expectations in a professional manner, anticipating and addressing their needs and desires. Provide flexible customer service to ensure customer satisfaction and loyalty.communicate with customerscommunicate with customersRespond to and communicate with customers in the most efficient and appropriate manner to enable them to access the desired products or services, or any other help they may require.manage schedule of tasksmanage schedule of tasksMaintain an overview of all the incoming tasks in order to prioritise the tasks, plan their execution, and integrate new tasks as they present themselves.implement marketing strategiesimplement marketing strategiesImplement strategies which aim to promote a specific product or service, using the developed marketing strategies.ensure compliance with legal requirementsensure compliance with legal requirementsGuarantee compliance with established and applicable standards and legal requirements such as specifications, policies, standards or law for the goal that organisations aspire to achieve in their effo...answer requests for quotationanswer requests for quotationMake up prices and documents for the products that customers may purchase.maintain relationship with customersmaintain relationship with customersBuild a lasting and meaningful relationship with customers in order to ensure satisfaction and fidelity by providing accurate and friendly advice and support, by delivering quality products and servic...implement customer follow-upimplement customer follow-upImplement strategies that ensures post-sale follow up of customer satisfaction or loyalty regarding one's product or service.prospect new customersprospect new customersInitiate activities in order to attract new and interesting customers. Ask for recommendations and references, find places where potential customers can be located.record customers' personal datarecord customers' personal dataGather and record customers' personal data into the system; obtain all signatures and documents required for rental.contact customerscontact customersContact customers by telephone in order to respond to inquiries or to notify them of claim investigation results or any planned adjustments.keep records of customer interactionkeep records of customer interactionRecording details of inquiries, comments and complaints received from customers, as well as actions to be taken.demonstrate motivation for salesdemonstrate motivation for salesShow incentives that drive someone to reach sales goals and business targets.use customer relationship management softwareuse customer relationship management softwareUse specialised software to manage company’s interactions with current and future customers. Organise, automate and synchronise sales, marketing, customer service, and technical support, to increase t...produce sales reportsproduce sales reportsMaintain records of calls made and products sold over a given time frame, including data regarding sales volumes, number of new accounts contacted and the costs involved.implement sales strategiesimplement sales strategiesCarry out the plan to gain competitive advantage on the market by positioning the company's brand or product and by targeting the right audience to sell this brand or product to.apply technical communication skillsapply technical communication skillsExplain technical details to non-technical customers, stakeholders, or any other interested parties in a clear and concise manner.respond to customers' inquiriesrespond to customers' inquiriesAnswer customers' questions about itineraries, rates and reservations in person, by mail, by e-mail and on the phone.supervise sales activitiessupervise sales activitiesMonitor and oversee the activities related to the ongoing sales in the shop to ensure that sales goals are met, assess areas for improvement, and identify or solve problems that customers could encoun...have computer literacyhave computer literacyUtilise computers, IT equipment and modern day technology in an efficient way.demonstrate products' featuresdemonstrate products' featuresDemonstrate how to use a product in a correct and safe manner, provide customers with information on the product's main features and benefits, explain operation, correct use and maintenance. Persuade ...provide customer follow-up servicesprovide customer follow-up servicesRegister, follow-up, solve and respond to customer requests, complaints and after-sales services.keep records on saleskeep records on salesKeep records of the activities of the sales of products and services, tracking which products and services were sold when and maintaining customer records, in order to facilitate improvements in the s...
Optional (27) — show
chemical productschemical productsThe offered chemical products, their functionalities, properties and legal and regulatory requirements.textile industry machinery productstextile industry machinery productsThe offered textile industry machinery products, their functionalities, properties and legal and regulatory requirements.e-procuremente-procurementThe functioning and methods used to manage electronic purchases.sales activitiessales activitiesThe supply of goods, sale of goods and the related financial aspects. The supply of goods entails the selection of goods, import and transfer. The financial aspect includes the processing of purchasin...credit card paymentscredit card paymentsThe methods involving payment done through credit cards.electronic and telecommunication equipmentelectronic and telecommunication equipmentThe offered electronic and telecommunication equipment and products, their functionalities, properties and legal and regulatory requirements.types of aircrafttypes of aircraftThe various types of aircraft, their functionalities, properties and legal and regulatory requirements.office equipmentoffice equipmentThe offered office machinery and equipment products, its functionalities, properties and legal and regulatory requirements.agricultural equipmentagricultural equipmentThe offered agricultural machinery and equipment products, their functionalities, properties and legal and regulatory requirements.types of maritime vesselstypes of maritime vesselsVarious types of maritime vessels such as container ships, passenger ships and fishing vessels, and their characteristics and specifications, security, technical, and maintenance requirements.international commercial transactions rulesinternational commercial transactions rulesPre-defined commercial terms used in international commercial transactions which stipulate clear tasks, costs and risks associated with the delivery of goods and services.machinery productsmachinery productsThe offered machinery products their functionalities, properties and legal and regulatory requirements.consumer protectionconsumer protectionThe current legislation applicable in relation to the rights of consumers in the marketplace.hardware, plumbing and heating equipment productshardware, plumbing and heating equipment productsThe offered hardware, plumbing and heating equipment products, their functionalities, properties and legal and regulatory requirements.industrial toolsindustrial toolsThe tools and equipment used for industrial purposes, both power and hand tools, and their various uses.multimedia systemsmultimedia systemsThe methods, procedures and techniques pertaining to the operation of multimedia systems, usually a combination of software and hardware, presenting various types of media such as video and audio.electronic businesselectronic businessAny business process that is implemented through a computer-mediated network. Mainly, it concerns the use of the Web, Internet, intranets to conduct businesses. It deals with, among others, business p...e-commerce systemse-commerce systemsBasic digital architecture and commercial transactions for trading products or services conducted via Internet, e-mail, mobile devices, social media, etc.mining, construction and civil engineering machinery productsmining, construction and civil engineering machinery productsThe offered mining, construction and civil engineering machinery products, their functionalities, properties and legal and regulatory requirements.market pricingmarket pricingPrice volatility according to market and price elasticity, and the factors which influence pricing trends and changes in the market in the long and short term.electronic communicationelectronic communicationData communication performed through digital means such as computers, telephone or e-mail.sales strategiessales strategiesThe principles concerning customer behaviour and target markets with the aim of promotion and sales of a product or a service.create solutions to problemscreate solutions to problemsSolve problems which arise in planning, prioritising, organising, directing/facilitating action and evaluating performance. Use systematic processes of collecting, analysing, and synthesising informat...speak different languagesspeak different languagesMaster foreign languages to be able to communicate in one or more foreign languages.perform customers’ needs analysisperform customers’ needs analysisAnalyse the habits and needs of customers and target groups in order to devise and apply new marketing strategies and to sell more goods in a more effective way.address problems criticallyaddress problems criticallyIdentify the strengths and weaknesses of various abstract, rational concepts, such as issues, opinions, and approaches related to a specific problematic situation in order to formulate solutions and a...issue sales invoicesissue sales invoicesPrepare the invoice of goods sold or services provided, containing individual prices, the total charge, and the terms. Complete order processing for orders received via telephone, fax and internet and...
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Frequently asked questions
What does a technical sales representative do?
Technical sales representatives act for a business to sell its merchandise while providing technical insight for customers.
What skills does a technical sales representative need?
A technical sales representative needs 27 essential skills, including characteristics of products, sales promotion techniques, product comprehension, characteristics of services, guarantee customer satisfaction.
Will AI replace technical sales representative jobs?
The AI disruption score for technical sales representative is 57/100 (high risk). Skills most exposed to automation: record customers' personal data, keep records on sales, electronic communication. Most resilient: types of aircraft, perform customers’ needs analysis, textile industry machinery products.
AI Replacement Risk
57/ 100
High Risk
Low riskHigh risk
Skills most at risk from AI
Skills resilient to automation
This is the average for the whole occupation. The AI Career Shield test (about 10 minutes) shows the risk in your own work and what you can do about it.
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