J. O’Brien - Trusted Reseller Partner
J. O’Brien has been a family-owned company from the beginning. CEO Sharmay O’Brien and her father, John O’Brien, started the manufacturing company together in 1986. Rooted in the ID business from the start, they began making Polaroid film and laminated ID cards, and slowly transitioned into providing the card printers we all use now. Although the business has moved into other modern security solutions, they are still proud manufacturers of select security products to this day. Built up from the 80s, the company is now an enterprise-level provider of modern security solutions with over 30 years of experience in access control, credential management, card printing, and custom products.
Credentials and experience are great, but what truly stands out about J. O’Brien is their obsession with the customer experience and how they have dedicated themselves to growing in ways that will bring tremendous value to their customers. The company’s transition from a product-based to a solutions-based business came from a desire to bring more value to its customers. They asked the question, “How can we do more and offer more to our customers?” and courageously followed that question to its end in solutions well beyond physical printers and cards. Although this means they find themselves in more demanding sales situations and with more responsibility on their shoulders, they’re not afraid of the challenge. They take time to look at the whole badging process and find the areas where they can bring software solutions that add immense value to their customers' day-to-day lives. Taking this approach allows J. O’Brien to become an extension of their customers, not just a supplier - a goal that drives their desire to get into the solutions model as their primary business engine.
Something that has set J. O’Brien apart in the security industry is their enthusiasm about new technology solutions, specifically our product, RemotePhoto. Traditionally, the security industry has been a brick-and-mortar market where new solution players are met with degrees of skepticism. Still, right off the bat, the team at J. O’Brien recognized the incredible value our product could bring to the market. They deeply understand their customers' problems; they see the singular person, that unsung hero of the card and badging office, manually processing thousands of ID photos. They recognize that, with RemotePhoto, they aren’t just selling a cool ID photo solution; they’re selling back time to the customer. To them, RemotePhoto aligned well with their goals of solving a problem for their customers, bringing in additional revenue, and having the vision to lead customers into the future of ID solutions.
J. O’Brien wants the customer to win in the long run. They excel at stepping into their clients' shoes and expect every vendor they partner with to do the same. Mike Piana, a partner at J. O’Brien and the VP of Sales and Marketing, stresses the importance of ensuring the solutions they provide aren’t just dealing with one problem while creating three others — they want to be known as a company that solves the customer's problem in its entirety, the first time. Their whole tag line is “above, beyond, secure,” and this motto goes for anyone they decide to partner with in the security industry.
As an early technology adopter in the industry, J. O’Brien truly has its finger on the pulse of where the market is going, especially regarding brick-and-mortar vs. cloud-based solutions. They are courageous champions of obsessing over the customer experience, seeking out solutions that will only ever bring value to their clients. Showing up authentically and building trust within the industry is something they strive to accomplish, and their integrity and care for their customers shines through. We are proud to partner with J. O’Brien, a trusted reseller of RemotePhoto, as we help solve the ID photo challenges for security teams nationwide.
You can learn more about J. O’Brien by visiting their website.
