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BlueStar Nation is the podcast that tackles the hot topics, trends, and emerging technologies impacting the specialty IT reseller channel, software companies, MSPs, and hardware manufacturers. Hosted by John Martin & Dean Reverman. Tell us what YOU want to hear about: nation@bluestarinc.com
Episodes
Oct 26, 2023
Oct 26, 2023
1hr 1 min
Retailers are never going to stop being interested in improving the customer experience. We have more to discuss in upcoming episodes, but we thought we should revisit this episode with CDW's Andy Szanger.
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(Originally released Aug. 3, 2023) Consumers are returning to brick-and-mortar stores, but after years of convenience and digital shopping, expectations for seamless, fast, and maybe even fun visits are higher than ever. This week, CDW’s Andy Szanger joins the pod to discuss how retail tech can improve customer journeys and create an “experience” that keeps them coming back. How much do consumers value their time? Why is improving employee experience just as necessary as customers'? Are experiential solutions just for Tier 1 retailers?
#VARValue - What new retail tech, innovations, or trends should VARs be learning more about that are likely to become part of their tech stack in the future?
Referenced Articles:
Forbes - "How Tech is Making the Retail Industry More Efficient and Improving the Customer Experience"
Lightspeed - "What is Experiential Retail?"
Lowe's "Project Unlock" - Video
TEConnecting with us:
Andy - Web3
Dean - Netflix Adds New Subscribers
John - Apple Fixes "Ducking" Problem
Talk to us!
X/Twitter - @TEConnectPod
Email - TEConnect@bluestarinc.com
Submit your topic ideas - https://www.bluestarinc.com/us-en/lan...
Follow BlueStar on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/blue...
Subscribe to the BlueStar Nation Newsletter - https://nation.bluestarinc.com/#subsc...
Oct 19, 2023
Oct 19, 2023
1hr 4 min
Outsourcing some aspects of a business can be beneficial, but when it comes to color label printing, especially for highly regulated and rapidly changing industries, it’s best to do it yourself. This week, Epson’s Andy Scherz & Mark Middendorf, passionate advocates for color labeling, join the show to explain and help you make the case to end-users. When does it make sense financially to print in-house? How does it help with regulatory compliance? How much waste is incurred with third-party printing? It’s the episode that’s smaller and more capable than you think!
#VARValue - Epson has been very proactive with color label printing. Tell us how you help VARs address the issues we’ve discussed.
TEConnecting with us:
Mark & Andy - Cloud printing & device access
Dean - ISS falling apart
John - Crabs saving coral reefs
Talk to us!
X/Twitter - @TEConnectPod
Email - TEConnect@bluestarinc.com
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:
Epson ColorWorks CW-C400
Zebra ET60/65 Tablets
Oct 12, 2023
Oct 12, 2023
1hr 3 min
Looking for more interesting articles, surveys, and topics to share with colleagues and clients? Dean & John are riffing on six more water cooler subjects for your listening pleasure. It’s the episode that shoehorns some creepiness in time for Friday the 13th!
Topics Discussed:
- The most famous streets in the US
- Americans' attitudes toward retirement
- What powered the world in 2022?
- Best countries for adventure
- Oldest & youngest states
- Fun facts about Google at 25
TEConnecting with us:
Dean - Coke Y3000 AI flavor
John - Earthquake lights
Talk to us!
X/Twitter - @TEConnectPod
Email - TEConnect@bluestarinc.com
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:
Zebra RS6100 Ring Scanner
Oct 5, 2023
Oct 5, 2023
1hr 7 min
BlueStar’s VARTECH is consistently the #1 reseller channel show, and this year’s global event in San Antonio, TX, broke attendance records. We’re recapping the highlights and key moments for those who couldn’t go. What was the theme, and how did it fit with keynote speaker/musician Jimmy Yeary? What did we see on the CodeZone tradeshow floor? Which ISVs shined during TEConnect Live? What were the evening events like? It’s the episode that wouldn’t last three seconds on an angry bull.
#VARValue - For VARs that didn’t attend, what did you learn that anyone can use?
Check Out the VARTECH 2023 Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLhOzZ0CZ_E9S1PbHGYswU7jTB0gKy-Gt&si=QNPeXUjowncVwKx1
TEConnecting with us:
Dean - Alien bodies? and wine flood
John - Hollywood strikes
Talk to us!
X/Twitter - @TEConnectPod
Email - TEConnect@bluestarinc.com
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:
Zebra TC73/78 Mobile Computers
Sep 28, 2023
Sep 28, 2023
1hr 2 min
By now, most of us have dabbled with ChatGPT or another generative AI, but what can it do to help improve our daily work and businesses? James Korte joins the guys for an episode recorded live at VARTECH 2023 with an audience that had plenty of thoughts. We recap the marketing uses, James updates us on what the image generators can do, and we look at a list of other ways you can deploy this technology. Finally, we compare and contrast ChatGPT, Bard, Bing Chat, LlaMA, and Claude.
Slides shown during the presentation: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1HSGKZW2Zi-RxjaCzq_2bsObZUP6JsF9M/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=100394876516957773492&rtpof=true&sd=true
TEConnecting with us:
Dean - Star Wars X-Wing model up for auction
Talk to us!
X/Twitter - @TEConnectPod
Email - TEConnect@bluestarinc.com
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:
Zebra Refresh the Base
Sep 21, 2023
Sep 21, 2023
1hr 1 min
A “legacy” POS can be a reseller’s bane as they strive to introduce upgraded technology and modernization to retail and hospitality. CBS’ Jeremy Julian (host of The Restaurant Technology Guys Podcast) is back on the show to explain his three-step approach to encouraging POS replacement. How does he define a legacy POS, and why are businesses hesitant to update? What should end users consider, why is connectivity important, and what does the ideal VAR/ISV look like when an opportunity comes along? It’s the episode that owes Jim Roddy a few drinks!
#VARValue - Software often gets the most attention when discussing new POS, but why is evaluating the latest hardware just as crucial when upgrading?
TEConnecting with us:
Jeremy - ChatGPT
Dean - Flying taxis
John - EVs and auto insurance
Talk to us!
X/Twitter - @TEConnectPod
Email - TEConnect@bluestarinc.com
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:
Zebra Legacy Printer Refresh
Sep 14, 2023
Sep 14, 2023
50 min
As the crew recovers from VARTECH ‘23, here’s another round of interesting lists, stories, and water cooler topics to ponder.
- The US's top-ranked podcast subjects
- Best beer cities in America
- Americans' relationship with alcohol
- Which jobs will shrink the most in the next decade
- IBM quantum computer reaches key milestone
- Ranking brand reputations
TEConnecting with us:
Dean - Cruise cuts its robotaxi fleet and Brady Bunch home for sale
John - TEC Beef - school technology
Talk to us!
X/Twitter - @TEConnectPod
Email - TEConnect@bluestarinc.com
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:
Zebra Healthcare Device eBook
Sep 7, 2023
Sep 7, 2023
46 min
The term “emerging technologies” can come with a lot of baggage for VARs who may not be interested in taking on the risk of unproven solutions but could also miss out on the benefits of embracing the next trend as it takes off. Intel’s Justin Christiansen joins the pod this week to help us take a practical approach to those concerns. What stories does Justin tell to explain the transformative experiences of emerging tech? How does Intel help the reseller channel drive success? What advice does he have to prepare end users for the coming AI wave?
#VARValue - What should we expect from Intel at VARTECH and beyond for those not attending?
References:
McKinsey - The State of AI in 2023
TEConnect Podcast Intel Playlist
BlueStar Nation - Are End User Orgs Embracing AI? (Survey)
TEConnecting with us:
Justin - Generative AI assisting with metadata
Dean - AI recipe generator gone wrong
John - Food packaging that detects contamination
Talk to us!
X/Twitter - @TEConnectPod
Email - TEConnect@bluestarinc.com
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 Wallaby Pro
Aug 31, 2023
Aug 31, 2023
1hr 9 min
We have another panel of amazing guests with a live audience watching and asking questions. This time, we’re talking POS & payment trends and other topics important to retail & hospitality. Our guests? Zebra’s Director of Product Management (POS/Payments) Andrew Kim, CDW Director of Strategic Industries Andy Szanger, and Retail Management Hero CEO Jeff Riley. Is the shift happening toward mobile & tabPOS, especially in SMB? How will PCI 4.0 implementation impact payment solutions? How does the move from Windows to cloud-based software affect VAR/ISV relationships? What other opportunities exist when a business takes POS upgrades off the table?
#VARValue - (Questions from the audience)
- What are the cybersecurity risks of using an all-in-one mobile device for POS, payments, inventory management, etc.?
- What's changed the most about POS in the last five years?
- What other payment trends are you following?
Request Your Zebra Refresh the Base Report!
TEConnecting with us:
Jeff - ChatGPT
Andrew - RFID for retail shopping
Andy - NYC bans TikTok on city-owned devices
Talk to us!
X/Twitter - @TEConnectPod
Email - TEConnect@bluestarinc.com
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:
Zebra Sales Trifecta
Elo Z-Stands
Aug 24, 2023
Aug 24, 2023
1hr 22 min
An epic AI trilogy deserves an epic conclusion, so this week, we welcomed LG’s Mike Stachura & Aaron Addison into the studio for various topics and a lot of laughter. First, we discuss some predictions for generative AI’s impact on business. Next, we dig into the importance of addressing employee experience by featuring the story of Fordlandia. Finally, what does Constantinople have to do with cybersecurity? It’s the episode that knows how to be professional and charming at the same time.
#VARValue - How is LG addressing the topics we’ve discussed today, and how are you helping VARs tackle these timely solution needs with their customers?
Check out LG's All-in-One Thin Client
TEConnecting with us:
Mike - Aliens
Aaron - Electric toothbrushes
Dean - Acoustic hacking
John - Self-repossessing cars
Talk to us!
X/Twitter - @TEConnectPod
Email - TEConnect@bluestarinc.com
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 Large Format
Zebra Sell & Win Club