productive - Business Development Manager PIPS Technology Employee Review

Good hardware company, but that's where it ends. It had much promise, but there are many cons that lead to a 2-star rating at best.

The company was a leader at one point in time - having a dominant position worldwide both in terms of direct sales and sales through key strategic partners. Upon its acquisition by Federal Signal, it lost its focus, ability to innovate, and it's ability to invest in R&D and Support resources. A second acquisition by 3M has left it decimated and devoid of any commitment to the customer base that got it there in the first place - law enforcement. It has failed to deliver the software needed and requested by the law enforcement community, and its employees have been dropping like flies due to a lack of vision and questionable commitment to its core customer base. Other LPR vendors have stepped up, stealing market share (and employees) at a fast pace.

Great opportunity for growth within 3M (but outside of their ALPR division) after the acquisition, and you may need that, sting how they manage their ALPR business. Also 3M has some of the best people I've met, they make for a great work environment, and if you learn their culture and merge into it, you have a place to work, for life.

3M is a huge company, and that comes with a few drawbacks, like: very slow to make significant changes or innovate in a fast pace technology driven market, high costs of operation due to whole (remote & disconnected) departments doing the job that was handled by one local person before the acquisition, and long, cumbersome and restrictive processes handled by remote and untrained people are always in the way of so many of your sales initiatives and needs, such as trips, entertaining a customer, providing samples, demonstrations, training, customer or channel support, integrations, customizations, upgrades and patches, etc. Management rotates every 12 to 24 months and that inconsistency is sometimes bad for a company.