BlueStar Nation

The Continuing Evolution of Warehousing w/StayLinked’s Justin Griffith

It’s been three years since StayLinked CTO Justin Griffith last appeared on the pod. He discussed the struggle to get warehouses to adopt new technology, even during the pandemic. Has anything changed since then? How is AI impacting the conversation? What other emerging supply chain technologies is he watching? Most importantly, what does Justin think of the Apple Vision Pro?

 

#VARValue - How is StayLinked helping VARs strengthen their supply chain solution offerings?

 

StayLinked's VDC Research Report: https://info.staylinked.com/vdc-warehouse-report-2024 

 

TEConnecting with us:

Justin - 3M paper bubble wrap

Dean - NCAA/ESPN media deal and the annual number of objects launched into space

John - How celebs handle cell phone usage

 

Keep in Touch!

Email - TEConnect@bluestarinc.com

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/blue-star

Submit your topic ideas - https://www.bluestarinc.com/en-us/about-the-company/bluestar-teconnect-podcast 

Subscribe to the BlueStar Nation Newsletter - https://nation.bluestarinc.com/#subscribe 

 

Sponsored by:

Elo 70 Series

Food Safety & the Supply Chain w/Jim Hilton

Traceability is more important than ever in the food supply chain, as it allows quick and efficient tracking and halting of potential contaminants and foodborne illnesses. This week, food supply chain expert Jim Hilton joins us (in the studio!) to explain the opportunities for VARs. Why are we seeing more recalls? How does the direct-to-consumer market affect the supply chain? What is the FSMA 204 Final Rule, and how will technology help suppliers comply quickly? It’s the episode that wants to know exactly where this salad came from.

 

#VARValue—What conversations should VARs who work with food manufacturers/suppliers have right now to prepare for these changes? 

 

TEConnecting with us:

Jim - Temperature control/sensors & truck connectivity

Dean - AI helps create new antibiotics

John - The EU's AI Act

 

Keep in Touch!

Email - TEConnect@bluestarinc.com

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/blue-star

Submit your topic ideas - https://www.bluestarinc.com/en-us/about-the-company/bluestar-teconnect-podcast 

Subscribe to the BlueStar Nation Newsletter - https://nation.bluestarinc.com/#subscribe 

 

Sponsored by:

Elo I-Series 3 w/Intel

Don’t Forget the Printer Supplies! w/Jessica Kroth

A printer is only as good as its ability to print. That makes the supplies and consumables, like labels, paper, printheads, and more, critical components for a total printer solution and an opportunity for resellers to make steady recurring revenue! BlueStar’s Jessica Kroth, who has over 15 years of experience and a passion for the topic, shares her tips with us this week. How much profit can be gained from supplies vs. hardware alone? What risks do VARs and their customers take when buying supplies from third parties or online retailers? How does selling supplies give you a competitive advantage? It’s the podcast you may want to print out and tape to the wall for reference!

 

#VARValue — How does BlueStar make it easy for VARs to generate recurring revenue from their customers' printer needs? 

 

BlueStar's Media & Consumables

 

TEConnecting with us:

Jess - AI & trusted sources

Dean - Why humans don't have tails

John - Airpods Pro - Gen 2

 

Keep in Touch!

Email - TEConnect@bluestarinc.com

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/blue-star

Submit your topic ideas - https://www.bluestarinc.com/us-en/landing-pages/podcast-topics.html

Follow BlueStar on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/blue-star/

Subscribe to the BlueStar Nation Newsletter - https://nation.bluestarinc.com/#subscribe 

 

Sponsored by:

Elo Pay 7" POS System

Advice from a Reseller Channel Veteran w/Code’s Dave Judy

In our industry, looking back can be as important as looking forward, so this week, we’re tapping into a channel veteran for insights and lessons. Code Corporation’s Dave Judy has nearly 50 years of experience in retail, sales, and barcode technology. What’s his background, and how has Code grown & changed? What is his selling philosophy, and why does the channel make it even easier? What professional and personal lessons has Dave learned? Finally, how is Dave helping make driver’s licensing easier in the age of digital wallets?

 

#VARValue - What advice do you have for the next generation in this channel? Is there any new/upcoming tech you think will be a big deal sooner rather than later?

 

TEConnecting with us:

Dave - Digital driver's licensing

Dean - World's smallest QR code

John - Disney star launches satellite data startup

 

Keep in Touch!

Email - TEConnect@bluestarinc.com

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/blue-star

Submit your topic ideas - https://www.bluestarinc.com/us-en/landing-pages/podcast-topics.html

Follow BlueStar on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/blue-star/

Subscribe to the BlueStar Nation Newsletter - https://nation.bluestarinc.com/#subscribe 

 

Sponsored by:

Elo Edge Connect

pDOOH: Revenue Streams for You and End Users w/Smartify’s Joe Kunigonis & BlueStar’s Ben Simon

Storefronts and public venues offer plenty of opportunities for national and local brands to market & advertise. It’s also a potential source of recurring revenue for retailers, venue owners, and VARs. That’s the idea behind pDOOH (Programmatic Digital Out-of-Home) advertising, which uses “monetized & managed digital signage” in highly trafficked areas. Ben Simon, BlueStar’s Emerging Technologies BDM, and Joe Kunigonis, CEO of Smartify Media, our partner in the pDOOH initiative, explain the landscape, the solution, and how VARs benefit from selling it.

 

#VARValue - What should VARs interested in these solutions do next? How should they identify potential customers, and how do we help?

 

Learn More About pDOOH: https://pdooh.bluestarinc.com/ 

 

TEConnecting with us:

Ben - Dyson Zone - headphones w/air purifier

Joe - Mobile to screen sync

Dean - Chomper, the $20M baby T-Rex

John - Beef-infused rice

 

Keep in Touch!

Email - TEConnect@bluestarinc.com

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/blue-star

Submit your topic ideas - https://www.bluestarinc.com/us-en/landing-pages/podcast-topics.html

Follow BlueStar on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/blue-star/

Subscribe to the BlueStar Nation Newsletter - https://nation.bluestarinc.com/#subscribe 

 

Sponsored by:

Elo 70-Series Touch Monitors

 

Is RFID Right for Your Business? w/TSC Printronix’s Chris Brown

RFID adoption is rapidly increasing, but traditional AIDC barcode VARs may still be uncertain if they want to add the technology to their portfolio. This week, TSC Printronix's RFID expert, Chris Brown, acknowledges the complexity of RFID solutions alongside the potential for your business. He presents what he sees as four clear options for barcoding VARs to take on (or not) RFID, followed by a look at mandates pushing the technology down the supply chain. What's the "Walmart blast off?" What other industries are primed for RFID? How does the "tush push" fit into this conversation?

 

#VARValue - Thinking about the process for implementing RFID, how does TSC help VARs get an opportunity over the finish line? 

 

TSC Printronix Webinars

RFID Printers - April 2023

Genuine Supplies, Powered by DLS - August 2023

 

TEConnecting with us:

Chris - RFID asset tracking

Dean - Bipedal robots get us one step closer to Terminator

John - Oh, and AI LLMs are already acting like Skynet

 

Keep in Touch!

Email - TEConnect@bluestarinc.com

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/blue-star

Submit your topic ideas - https://www.bluestarinc.com/us-en/landing-pages/podcast-topics.html

Follow BlueStar on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/blue-star/

Subscribe to the BlueStar Nation Newsletter - https://nation.bluestarinc.com/#subscribe 

 

Sponsored by:

Elo Outdoor Open Frame

Winning in Search for SMB Solution Providers w/James Korte

When the guys need a last-minute guest, bringing in James Korte and telling him to talk marketing is never a bad idea! James predictably nails it with a dive into SEO strategy and how SMB solution providers can position themselves high in organic searches. How long does it take? Where do you start? What should you create? How do you know it's working? Finally, we give you some concrete examples. It's the episode that's constantly Googling itself.

 

#VARValue - What can anyone listening (regardless of their position or marketing prowess) do to help their company’s SEO?

 

TEConnecting with us:

James - Rediscovering Pinterest

Dean - AI water consumption

John - Is KITT finally coming?

 

Keep in Touch!

Email - TEConnect@bluestarinc.com

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/blue-star

Submit your topic ideas - https://www.bluestarinc.com/us-en/landing-pages/podcast-topics.html

Follow BlueStar on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/blue-star/

Subscribe to the BlueStar Nation Newsletter - https://nation.bluestarinc.com/#subscribe 

 

Sponsored by:

Elo I-Series 3 with Intel

Retail Digital Signage Survey - Opportunities Abound

We're sifting through the data from another BlueStar Nation end-user survey (sponsored by Samsung): 125 retailer leaders shared their concerns, expectations, and perceptions about deploying digital displays. Why aren't they utilizing it? How would they if they did? Are their cost expectations accurate? Who do they think would be responsible for purchasing, maintaining, and managing content? It's an episode filled with data to help YOU find and win business.

 

#VARValue - Dean's takeaways as a former digital signage reseller.

 

TEConnecting with us:

Dean - Boston Dynamics = Cyberdyne Systems?

John - NASA beams a cat video via laser

 

Keep in Touch!

Email - TEConnect@bluestarinc.com

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/blue-star

Submit your topic ideas - https://www.bluestarinc.com/us-en/landing-pages/podcast-topics.html

Follow BlueStar on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/blue-star/

Subscribe to the BlueStar Nation Newsletter - https://nation.bluestarinc.com/#subscribe 

 

Sponsored by:

Elo M60 Mobile POS

TEC Bytes 15 - Trying to Make TEC Happen

We’re covering six more topics in technology, business, entertainment, and more!

 

Topics Discussed:

• MIT’s 10 Breakthrough Technologies for 2024
• US companies that failed in China
• 50 years of video game revenues
• Most popular apps by downloads
• LinkedIn for dating?
• CES 2024 (and this article)

 

TEConnecting with us:

Dean - "Shotski" record

John - Strike Force Five podcast

 

Keep in Touch!

Email - TEConnect@bluestarinc.com

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/blue-star

Submit your topic ideas - https://www.bluestarinc.com/us-en/landing-pages/podcast-topics.html

Follow BlueStar on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/blue-star/

Subscribe to the BlueStar Nation Newsletter - https://nation.bluestarinc.com/#subscribe 

 

Sponsored by:

Elo Pay 7"

MSPs & VARs – Bridging the Gap w/SD Tech’s Shane Mishler

VARs and MSPs can sometimes be represented as operating in two different, siloed segments of the B2B technology market, but in a world where “one source” partners and consultants are more valuable than ever, collaboration is the future. This week, we’re joined by Shane Mishler, VP & COO of SD Tech, an MSP that’s already doing just that. How does Shane equate tech consulting to a construction project? How do MSPs handle requests that are outside of their scope? What emerging tech are his clients asking about?

 

#VARValue - How can VARs develop better mutual relationships with MSPs?

 

TEConnecting with us:

Shane - Samsung "Ballie"

Dean - Thwarting deepfake photos w/camera tech

John - The Nintendo Switch (and Breath of the Wild)

 

Keep in Touch!

Email - TEConnect@bluestarinc.com

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/blue-star

Submit your topic ideas - https://www.bluestarinc.com/us-en/landing-pages/podcast-topics.html

Follow BlueStar on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/blue-star/

Subscribe to the BlueStar Nation Newsletter - https://nation.bluestarinc.com/#subscribe 

 

Sponsored by:

Elo Edge Connect Peripherals