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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
Thursday Jun 02, 2022
Thursday Jun 02, 2022
Holy podcast, friends…we’ve reached 100 episodes! That means it’s time to reflect on where we came from and where we’re going next. How do we feel about our earliest episodes? Should anyone listen to podcasts at higher speeds? What are some of our favorite episodes, guests and moments? What do we think we’ll be talking about at 200 episodes? Finally, we play another round of Tech Trivia with returning champ Whitney Gerrety & new contestant Patrick Troutt. It’s the episode that doesn’t even know how it got here, but you’re stuck with us now! (Plus, listen for a couple bloopers Marko inserted!)
Thank YOU for listening!
Talk to us!
Twitter: @TEConnectPod
Email: TEConnect@bluestarinc.com
Submit your topic ideas: https://www.bluestarinc.com/us-en/landing-pages/podcast-topics.html
Sponsored by:
Elo DICOM Monitors
Zebra Media & Supplies
Thursday May 26, 2022
Thursday May 26, 2022
We’re touching stuff again! (Sort of…) Touchscreens are, of course, very common in our daily lives and we’re seeing more of them in industries like retail and hospitality, but we wanted to know if there were any unique use cases that VARs could take advantage of. MicroTouch’s Bill Nulf joins us to answer that question. How are touchscreens used in correctional facilities? Cannabis dispensaries? Healthcare? Bill also gives us a speed round of additional opportunities. It’s the episode where Dean emphatically notes he doesn’t frequent prisons!
#VARValue - How does MicroTouch help VARs find and win unique opportunities for touchscreen technology?
What's TEConnecting with us:
Bill - BMW color changing cars
Dean - Rewinding skin cells 30 years
John - An oral history of Disney's "The Black Hole"
Talk to us!
Twitter - @TEConnectPod
Email - TEConnect@bluestarinc.com
Submit your topic ideas! https://www.bluestarinc.com/us-en/landing-pages/podcast-topics.html
Sponsored by:
MicroTouch IC-215P All-in-One
Thursday May 19, 2022
Thursday May 19, 2022
We know…everyone is dealing with supply, component, and/or labor shortages. You’re ready to sell, your customers are ready to buy, but you simply can’t get the product they need. While we don’t have a quick fix for that (spoiler alert, no one does), something you can sell right now are Services. Epson’s Andy Scherz is back on the pod to explain. What does “services’ mean to him? How do they fit into a full solution provider’s offerings and what’s the benefit? How do we offer services to end users in a way that doesn’t just feel like an “add-on”? Dean says your business will probably die if you aren’t listening to this episode!
#VARValue - Let’s talk a bit about BlueStar’s services and how we help VARs become a trusted partner.
TEConnecting with us:
Andy - RFID
Dean - Paper-thin loudspeaker
John - RIP iPod
Talk to us!
Twitter - @TEConnectPod
Email - TEConnect@bluestarinc.com
Submit your topic ideas! https://www.bluestarinc.com/us-en/landing-pages/podcast-topics.html
Sponsored by:
Epson's ColorWorks Printers
Thursday May 12, 2022
Thursday May 12, 2022
A lot of discussions around asset or inventory management, mobility, connectivity, cloud-access, etc… revolves around work and processes taking place within four walls, but field-based workers need the same kind of tech, too! This week, Versona System’s Dan Fuller is here to help us look for opportunities for rugged hardware, barcodes, RFID, enterprise devices, and more for businesses who operate in remote areas or are consistently on the go. What’s the pitch for purpose-built versus consumer devices? What does asset management look like in the field? It’s the episode that just wants its refrigerator fixed!
#VARValue - How does Versona assist VARs with driving mobility solutions to field-based customers? Are there any devices that you’re excited to show off?
TEConnecting with us:
Dan - No battery BLE tagging
Dean - More interesting info from the UFO files
John - 9 Innings '22
Talk to us!
Twitter - @TEConnectPod
Email - TEConnect@bluestarinc.com
Send us your topic ideas! - https://www.bluestarinc.com/us-en/landing-pages/podcast-topics.html
Sponsored by:
Zebra Workforce Connect
Thursday May 05, 2022
Thursday May 05, 2022
“Crypto is a great buzzword…but you’ve gotta find a practical use for it.” So says BlockChyp CEO Jon Decker, who joins us this week to discuss this aspect of currency and payments that still feels a bit bleeding edge. What does the crypto market look like right now? What’s keeping it from becoming another source of recurring revenue like other payments have? How does this discussion compare to the rollout of contactless payments? It’s the episode that would like to talk to you about TEConnectCoin.
#VARValue - What’s the “pitch” for VARs and ISVs to both consider making crypto part of their strategy and for how to get their customers to do the same?
Referenced Articles:
TEConnecting with us:
Jon - NFTs
Dean - Pay with your hand
Talk to us!
Twitter - @TEConnectPod
Email - TEConnect@bluestarinc.com
Submit your ideas for the pod: https://www.bluestarinc.com/us-en/landing-pages/podcast-topics.html
Sponsored by:
Zebra Partner Connect for ISVs (and BlueStar's TEConnect Program)
Thursday Apr 28, 2022
Thursday Apr 28, 2022
Dean, John & Marko have been traveling, so we thought we'd revisit our most popular episode from the first year of the pod! It's also a great refresher on the struggle to introduce contactless payments to widespread use ahead of next week's new episode on Cryptocurrency. Enjoy!
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Contactless has become quite the buzzword this year, but contactless payments are not new. This week, we’re joined by two VPs from the world of payments, PAX Technology’s Heather Hatch & EVO Payments’ PJ Tierney. They help us understand the technology and why this movement isn’t as much of a headache as the switch to EMV was. What makes a payment contactless? Why was the US so far behind before the pandemic? What are the hardware needs? How are software partners adapting and how does BlueStar help? It’s another episode where John complains about having any contact with other humans.
#VARValue – What should VARs do to help retailers get over the contactless hurdle?
TEConnecting with us:
PJ - Niche vertical startups
Heather - Innovation in a pandemic
Dean - Walmart COVID test kit drone delivery
John - Raised by Wolves on HBO Max
Sponsored by:
Honeywell Smart Talk
Zebra EC30 Mobile Computer
Talk to us!
Twitter - @TEConnectPod
Email - TEConnect@bluestarinc.com
Thursday Apr 21, 2022
Thursday Apr 21, 2022
It’s once again time to nibble on a few stories and topics from the world of science, tech and business. Listen for your next watercooler discussion or to impress your friends and family!
- China’s “Thousand Talents Program”
- World’s Most Innovative Companies
- Using AI to Gauge Emotional Intelligence
- The Wendyverse
- Global Minimum Tax
- Best Cities for Remote Work
TEConnecting with us:
Dean - Space Balloon & Hydra Market shut down
John - Raised by Wolves on HBO MAX
Talk to us!
Twitter - @TEConnectPod
Email - TEConnect@bluestarinc.com
Send your topic ideas or TEC Bytes stories!
Sponsored by:
Elo - M60 Pay
Zebra - Modernizing the Warehouse
Thursday Apr 14, 2022
Thursday Apr 14, 2022
Sifting through our inboxes, it may feel like email marketing is more junk than useful, but when done properly, it’s still one of the most cost-effective and high-ROI methods for reaching your targeted audience. Barcoding Inc.’s Jody Costa returns to the pod to help us understand how to be more deliberate and coordinated with our emails. How do you build a strong list of subscribers? How do you keep them from unsubscribing? What should you be sending them? It’s the episode that reminds Dean that Millennials are actually adults now!
#VARValue – What social media and/or email platforms do you recommend for resellers to use? (Thanks to George Biastre for the question and for suggesting the topic!)
Referenced Articles:
- Is Email Marketing Dead? - HubSpot
- Is Email Marketing Dead? Definitely No. - Mageplaza
TEConnecting with us:
Jody - Fire pits
Dean - Meta's Universal Translator
John - Esquire's 50 Best Sci-Fi Novels list
Talk to us!
Twitter - @TEConnectPod
Email - TEConnect@bluestarinc.com
Sponsored by:
Intel On-Demand Webinar - "Powering the Smart Stores & QSRs of the Future"
Elo - I-Series 4
Thursday Apr 07, 2022
Thursday Apr 07, 2022
We’re going to assume you don’t still treat sales like a strictly transactional process (and if you do, you definitely need to listen), but what does it really mean to be a consultative partner? Elo’s Luke Wilwerding is back to help us answer that question. Why is a customer-centric approach more important than ever? What does a consultative sale look like from start to close? How do salespeople overcome hurdles like objections or asking for the business?
#VARValue – How does Elo fit into the consultative sales cycle?
Referenced Articles:
7 Ways to Win Deals with Consultative Sales - HubSpot
TEConnecting with us:
Luke - Edge computing
Dean - Virgin Galactic selling space flights
John - Stir dating app for single parents
Talk to us!
Twitter - @TEConnectPod
Email - TEConnect@bluestarinc.com
Submit your podcast ideas: https://www.bluestarinc.com/us-en/landing-pages/podcast-topics.html
Sponsored by:
Thursday Mar 31, 2022
Thursday Mar 31, 2022
Most industries understand the value of using enterprise mobile devices over consumer options, but are they properly caring for, storing, and maintaining them to maximize their potential? This week, Randy Murphy from Zebra joins the pod to discuss that very problem and a simple solution—deploying “intelligent” cabinets. What’s the need here? What options are available? What does the ROI and benefits look like? It’s the episode that reminds you that Sheriff ZAM is watching!
#VARValue – How does selling/deploying intelligent cabinets and storage options help VARs sell more devices and services in general?
TEConnecting with us:
Randy - Bringing broadband to the world
Dean - MIT Top Potential Tech Breakthroughs
John - Resurrecting the Tasmanian Tiger
Talk to us!
Twitter - @TEConnectPod
Email - TEConnect@bluestarinc.com
Submit Your Topic Suggestions: https://www.bluestarinc.com/us-en/landing-pages/podcast-topics.html
Sponsored by:
Zebra Intelligent Cabinets