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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 Apr 01, 2021
Thursday Apr 01, 2021
Supply chain came under a lot of scrutiny around this time last year as stay-at-home orders swept the world and people found themselves in need of more supplies, food and fundamentals than we typically keep on hand. It’s easy to assume that all the cool new tech we know is available for warehouses would make it easy to pivot to meet higher demand, but what you may not know is that there is a lot of hesitancy to adopt it. This week, we’re joined by StayLinked CTO Justin Griffith to get to the bottom of this. What’s preventing new tech adoption? How have legacy systems become so entrenched? Where do we start the conversation to move forward? And how does this affect hardware sales? It’s the episode that begs you not to take away our spreadsheets and green screens.
#VARValue – If you were to advise a VAR that has customers still using legacy systems, where would you recommend they start the conversation to upgrade?
TEConnecting with us:
Justin - 3D printing and massless batteries
Dean - Joby Aviation "flying cars"
John - Scientists Announce a Physical Warp Drive Is Now Possible. Seriously.
Talk to us!
Twitter - @TEConnectPod
Email - TEConnect@bluestarinc.com
Sponsored by:
Thursday Mar 25, 2021
Thursday Mar 25, 2021
It’s another topic from the new #TEConnect Today newsletter! Recurring revenue is an increasingly popular concept in the reseller channel and while it might normally be something we associate with companies deploying Software as a Service, there’s no reason it can’t be applied to hardware, services and full solutions. We’ll get into the benefits to your business, your financials, your customers and your employees. What are some other paths to recurring revenue? Finally, we’ll tell you a bit about how BlueStar can make it easier to offer this model to your customers and still meet your own goals. #Stickiness
#VARValue – What is BlueStar’s HybridSaaS program?
What's TEConnecting with us?
Dean - Non-fungible tokens (NFTs)
John - Hyundai Ioniq 5 EV
Talk to us!
Twitter: @TEConnectPod
Email: TEConnect@bluestarinc.com
Sponsored by:
Thursday Mar 18, 2021
Thursday Mar 18, 2021
It has now been just over a year since COVID-19 was declared a pandemic and the world changed in ways we could have never predicted. While we reflect on what we’ve lost and missed out on over the last year, it’s also important to think about what we’ve gained in innovations and technology. Healthcare, of course, had the most to learn, adapt and struggle with so we brought in Mike DeLibero from Agilant to find out what he experienced with those customers. Where were the biggest challenges? What technology suddenly leapt from “interested” to “must have”? We’re talking telehealth, purpose-built devices, contactless solutions and much more.
#VARValue - What are some tips, advice or best practices you have for VARs working in the channel and healthcare in particular?
TEConnecting with us
Mike - Patient experience software
Dean - Data trusts
John - Kinect touchless elevator
Talk to us!
Twitter - @TEConnectPod
BlueStar - TEConnect@bluestarinc.com
Sponsored by:
Thursday Mar 11, 2021
Thursday Mar 11, 2021
As a sneak preview of BlueStar’s new TEConnect Today newsletter, Dean & John dive into one of the articles featured in the first issue: “The Good VAR Channel Partner Checklist.” We have five tips for what to expect from a good channel partner, doubling as a primer for how to be such a partner as well. What questions should you ask internally before you start “courting”? What should you ask prospective partners? How much should you expect to know about a company’s customer base, their culture, and their financials? Don’t lower your expectations to find the right partner(s)!
#VARValue – How should VARs self-evaluate to make sure THEY are a good channel partner?
Sign Up for the TEConnect Today Newsletter!!
TEConnecting with us:
Dean - Deep Nostalgia
John - Cradlewise smart crib
Talk to us!
Twitter: @TEConnectPod
Email: TEConnect@bluestarinc.com
Thursday Mar 04, 2021
Thursday Mar 04, 2021
You might have noticed that we have a new President and new administration in the U.S. That means new priorities, new policies and new people to work with for resellers that operate in the public sector. It’s a complex time with a lot of nuance to navigate and there’s no time to waste! To provide some tips and tricks, we’ve brought in Jeff Smith, a consultant who frequently works with Zebra and is super savvy about government selling. What are VARs thinking about as the Biden administration takes over? What is the Technology Modernization Fund? What are the differences between cybersecurity & cloud security? Finally, how does Jeff recommend VARs approach state & local partners?
#VARValue – What should government VARs be doing right now to get a leg up and create a path to success this year?
Resources:
Federal Cloud Computing Strategy
TEConnecting with us:
Jeff - AI defense technologies
Dean - Organic slime
John - Amazon Zoox robotaxi
Talk to us!
Twitter: @TEConnectPod
Email: TEConnect@bluestarinc.com
Sponsored by:
Zebra's "What Can You See?" Campaign
Thursday Feb 25, 2021
Thursday Feb 25, 2021
A year into the pandemic, all businesses and communities have felt some impact, but perhaps the most troubling has been to our elderly population, particularly those living in senior/assisted living and long-term care facilities. Not only in the number of COVID deaths and outbreaks, but in the isolation and disconnection that residents are feeling as restricted or no visitations separate them from loved ones on the outside. This week, we are joined by AccuShield’s COO, Lever Stewart, to discuss how technology is not only helping keep our seniors safe from illness, but also from other vulnerabilities that were present in these settings long before the virus. How did their business change? Are temperature screenings still useful? What technology is vital to this industry post-COVID, for both residents and their loved ones?
TEConnecting with us:
Lever - Fall prevention technology, interactive TVs for seniors
Dean - Roblox
John - Anti-laser charging
Talk to us!
Twitter: @TEConnectPod
Email: TEConnect@bluestarinc.com
Sponsored by:
Thursday Feb 18, 2021
Thursday Feb 18, 2021
It’s been a while since we could gather en masse at concerts, sporting events or other entertainment. We know these industries were impacted in massive ways by the pandemic and while some have been able to reopen in limited ways, there’s still a long road ahead and some changes will be permanent. This week, we’re joined by Shannon Moyes from Volante Systems, experts in point-of-sale software. She has some excellent insight into how technology can help hospitality re-open, stay open, and be on the cutting edge of new innovations. How important is it to understand your customer’s point of view? What is “digital labor?” Do you know if your food came from a storefront or a ghost kitchen? What about corporate/educational/hospital dining…how have those businesses survived closures? We’re ready to pack our bags and break out a giant foam finger!
#VARValue - How does Volante work in the reseller channel and what is their business model?
Learn more about Volante Systems
TEConnecting with us:
Shannon - Apple Watch and health analytics
Dean - "Lego" cars - eBussy
John - Declassified UFO archives
Talk to us!
Twitter: @TEConnectPod
Email: TEConnect@bluestarinc.com
Sponsored by:
Elo Edge Connect
Zebra CS60 Series Scanners
Thursday Feb 11, 2021
Thursday Feb 11, 2021
Over the past year, we’ve talked a lot about what we touch and, more importantly, who else has touched it. Transmission of microbes, infections and viruses is a real concern, but the technology to combat it isn’t entirely new. This week, we’re joined by Robyn Ewers from Seal Shield, a company that specializes in infection control technology, and BlueStar’s Matt Jordan. What’s the difference between cleaning & disinfecting? Healthcare has always paid attention to infection prevention, but what are other industries learning? Are personal devices part of the problem? You’ll never look at your keyboard the same way after this one!
#VARValue - How should VARs talk to customers that may think they already have infection control figured out?
Fierce Healthcare article: "One year of COVID-19: Providence infectious disease expert shares lessons learned from the front lines"
TEConnecting with us:
Robyn - Skygazer app
Matt - Vertical market adaptation to COVID
Dean - "10 Facts About Viruses" (Seal Shield website)
John - “Researchers Develop Framework To Identify Health Impacts Of Self-Driving Vehicles” – Texas A&M Today
Talk to us!
Twitter: @TEConnectPod
Email: TEConnect@bluestarinc.com
Sponsored by:
Zebra Healthcare Solutions
Thursday Feb 04, 2021
Thursday Feb 04, 2021
Facial recognition technology pops up routinely in the news, often in alarming stories about the dangers, privacy issues, and who should or should not have access to the technology and the data it captures. However, the technology also has a lot of useful benefits for security and intelligent access, far beyond other biometrics and standard passwords. We’re joined by Richard Carriere of CyberLink, creators of FaceMe, to discuss how the technology works and some use cases you might not know. We also dive into some of those concerns, negative press, and how important it is to work with the right company to address those. It’s the episode where John gives everyone a tip to impress your Valentine!
#VARValue – How does CyberLink work in the reseller channel? What is their business model?
TEConnecting with us:
Richard - Ember mug
Dean - Game Stop stock debacle
John - Recipe box services (Blue Apron & Hello Fresh)
Talk to us!
Twitter - @TEConnectPod
Email - TEConnect@bluestarinc.com
Sponsored by:
Elo's 3203L Interactive Display
Zebra RFID Portfolio
Thursday Jan 28, 2021
Thursday Jan 28, 2021
It’s a new year and, if we recall our days in sales correctly, salespeople are planning out their account strategies for the year. We’re here to help by bringing in Luke Wilwerding, Elo’s Sr. Director of NA Field Sales. Luke is a big believer in “people buy from people” as the starting principle in learning how to dig deeper into your accounts. We’ll discuss how being personable, asking questions and addressing simple needs can turn into major partnerships. What does Luke see that works and doesn’t when he’s in the field? How do strategies change from established accounts to new ones? What tips do we have for 2021 as we continue selling from a distance?
#VARValue – How does working with a vendor like Elo (and a distributor like BlueStar) help you win and dig deeper?
TEConnecting with us:
Luke - Robotics at CES 2021
Dean - In-home robots
John - 60 Songs That Explain the '90s Podcast
Sponsored by:
Elo's M50 Mobile Computer
Talk to us!
Twitter: @TEConnectPod
Email: TEConnect@bluestarinc.com