BlueStar Nation

By now, we all know about “the cloud”—that place where data can be stored and accessed without needing a physical space in our homes or on our devices. For businesses like hospitality, retail, healthcare, food service and more, cloud-based software can improve the flow of data, rapidly manage inventory and supply chain, and even impact customer experience. This week, we chat with Jon Levin, Star Micronics’ Director of Product Management, to learn more about how cloud computing works, the advantages it provides and some possible future uses.

 

#VARValue - How do VARs benefit from selling cloud-based software?

 

TEConnecting with us:

Jon - Augmented reality

Dean - MartyrMade podcast

John - "Your paper notebook could become your next tablet" - Purdue Research article

 

Talk to us!

Twitter: @TEConnectPod

Email: TEConnect@bluestarinc.com 

Many of our topics focus on technology that’s pretty visible to us as consumers or users, but there is a lot of innovation happening in places we don’t typically see. This week, we bring in Michael Noyes, Honeywell’s VP & GM of Productivity Products, to discuss Smart Manufacturing and Industrial IoT. What is a smart factory? How does IIoT differ from the IoT we usually discuss? How is this technology integrating with existing systems? How is smart manufacturing helping companies stay open and productive in a pandemic? The robots are not really replacing us, but they are making our jobs and processes more productive.

 

#VARValue – What resources & emerging technologies should VARs be leveraging to help manufacturers get “smart”?

 

TEConnecting with us:

Mike - Digital twins & modeling for piloting and large assets

John - Digital twinning & virtual factory tours

Dean - CRISPR technology and modifying the "germ line"

 

Sponsored by:

Honeywell PX940 Industrial Printer

Ever come across a video ad or an article on social media offering information, tips or guidance on a topic of specific interest to you? Odds are, you were on the receiving end of Content Marketing, where the goal isn’t to directly sell you something, but indirectly lead you to learning more about a product or service that can solve a problem or address a need. It’s an effective tool for generating leads or raising awareness for your brand, but it’s also a slower, long-term play than traditional advertising. BlueStar’s Digital Marketing Manager James Korte returns to discuss. What kind of content can you use? What are the goals? What makes an effective campaign and what tools do you need to get started?

 

#VARValue – We discuss a couple successful BlueStar Appware Campaigns for end user lead generation.

 

Resources:

• Example eBook on Veterinary Practice Management
• Free & Inexpensive Marketing Tools presentation

 

Stats of Note:

• 91% of B2B marketers use Content Marketing
• Tuesdays & Wednesdays are most common for content consumption
  • Q3 and Q4 have higher rates, especially in November
• 30% of content requests come from the IT sector
• Nurtured leads make 47% larger purchases

 

Sponsored by:

Elo Unified Android Architecture

Honeywell CK65 Mobile Computer

Zebra's Keys to RFID Success eBook

 

Talk to Us!

Twitter: @TEConnectPod

Email: TEConnect@bluestarinc.com 

Remember when “work from home” (WFH) was something we envied? Or just a special privilege from time to time if your boss was cool? For many office workers, it’s been the typical workday for months and may continue to be for months or even years to come. This week, Dean & John explore remote work. What is our current situation? Will remote workers want to come back when it’s considered safe to do so? Are we working more from home than we would in the office? What are the challenges and benefits to WFH? Finally, we discuss the privilege that allows many of us to work from home, but asking so many to do so raises new questions about access, affordability and what being an “essential” worker truly means.

 

#VARValue – What are our tips & tricks for remote work?

 

TEConnecting with us:

Dean - Biomimicry

John - The End of the World w/Josh Clark podcast

 

Sponsored by:

Elo Safe Self-Service Solutions

Zebra COVID Patient ID Solution

 

Talk to us!

Twitter: @TEConnectPod

Email: TEConnect@bluestarinc.com 

“It’s the year of RFID!” If you’ve heard that before and roll your eyes at it every time, we get it. RFID is that technology that always seems on the cusp of exploding into the mainstream and, in many ways, it has but we know that some VARs aren’t really believers yet. We brought in two RFID experts, Miles Data’s Elton Saunders (our first VAR guest) and Tagit Solution’s Sandee Mukherjee, to talk about what they’re seeing with the technology. What are the common current applications? Are there industries that should be using RFID and really aren’t? What are some unique use cases that we might not have thought about?

 

#VARValue – What would you say to VARs who are hesitant to get into RFID applications and projects?

 

TEConnecting with us:

Sandee & Elton – Convergence of RFID, Blockchain & Cloud Technology

Elton -  Amazon Go store technology

Dean – Elon Musk’s Neuralink

John – Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (streaming on Netflix)

 

Sponsored by:

Zebra RFID Portfolio

Elo Edge Connect

 

Talk to us!

Twitter: @TEConnectPod

Email: TEConnect@bluestarinc.com 

We’re willing to bet you know when you have a good or bad manager, but if YOU are in management, are you sure what your employees would say? In this episode, Dean & John, both with management experience of their own, discuss what makes good and bad managers. What are some of the popular management techniques and styles? What does management look like right now, with employees working from home and potentially under more stress and uncertainty than ever? Are management and leadership two different things? They say people don’t leave podcasts, but they leave bad podcast hosts. We hope you aren’t going anywhere!

 

#VARValue – What are some additional tips, tricks and recommendations we can offer to managers?

 

References:

Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink & Leif Babin

The Top 7 Management Styles - Workzone.com

 

TEConnecting with us:

Dean - AI Deep Learning

John - "AI-Based Method Predicts Smell of Chemicals" - UC Riverside

 

Sponsors:

Elo Touch Solutions for Healthcare

Zebra Healthcare Scanner Instant Rebate & Red Cross Contribution

 

Talk to Us!!

Twitter: @TEConnectPod

Email: TEConnect@bluestarinc.com

Hello class, welcome to Digital Signage 101, a subject that is a bit taboo to some resellers and we want to dispel the myths around it.  Our guest lecturers are LG’s Mike Stachura and BlueStar’s Patrick Troutt. Professor Stachura is going to talk about the top industries using digital signage and some you might not expect, choosing the right software & content, and why commercial units are much better than consumer for all day/every day usage. Professor Troutt is an expert in the critical components and how VARs can partner with BlueStar to find the right people to create the right solutions. By the end of this class, you’ll get an “A” if you get out there and sell some digital signage!

 

#VARValue - Why should VARs not currently selling Digital Signage get into the technology?

 

TEConnecting with us:

Mike - Near-field communications (NFC)

Patrick - Restaurant apps/rewards & TTM Manager

Dean - UFOs are real!

John - RIP Grant Imahara

 

Sponsored by:

LG's Health Protocol Solutions

 

Talk to us!

Twitter - @TEConnectPod

Email - TEConnect@BlueStarinc.com 

Distribution has been a big, growing business for some time now, but probably never more so than when a pandemic forced millions to stay home and rely on ship-to-home, curbside pickup and other methods to get the products they need quickly and safely. We all know that these demands (and some panic buying) put a strain on our supply chain and exposed some weaknesses in processes and the ability to keep employees within warehouses and distribution centers safe and healthy. This week, we’re joined by Savant’s Chris Jackson and BlueStar’s Kevin Thomas to discuss the technology that’s moving distribution into the future. Where are robots, RFID, AI and wearables fitting in? What is the current and future impact of COVID-19? What have we learned and how can we secure the supply chain against future crises?

 

#VARValue – Why should VARs partner with a WMS provider to tackle distribution and supply chain issues?

 

TEConnecting with Us:

Chris - Life After Google: The Fall of Big Data and the Rise of the Blockchain Economy

Kevin - Mobile Hotspots

Dean - Companies Start to Think Remote Work Isn't So Great After All - WSJ

John - Face ID on the iPhone 11

 

Sponsored by:

Zebra's eBook: 5 Surefire Ways VARs Can Help Warehouses & DCs Future-Proof Their Mobile Enterprise

 

Talk to us:

Twitter: @TEConnectPod

Email: TEConnect@bluestarinc.com 

Do you trust two marketers moonlighting as podcasters to teach you the dos and don’ts of sales presentations? You should, because Dean & John have plenty of experience both as the sellers and the customer. We took some time away from technology to discuss what makes an effective presentation. What are the clichés of sales? What works and doesn’t work when presenting or pitching? What should you do before, during and after a presentation? Finally, what is the TUFA method? Come for the tips and stick around for a passionate discussion on the special effects between the original Star Wars trilogy and the prequels.

 

#VARValue – How can a better presentation help SMB VARs take on the big guys?

 

TEConnecting with Us:

Dean – CGI vs. Practical Effects

John – MIT’s UV-C Autonomous Disinfecting Robot

 

Resources & References:

IMPAX Corporation

 

Sponsored by:

Elo Huddle Kit

 

Not long ago, working with the cannabis industry was treated with kid gloves, hushed tones and met with resistance as a viable place to do business. Now, as legalization steadily moves across the US and around the world, it’s turned into an industry ripe for growth and opportunity. We have quite the roundtable for this episode: Dave Albert from Retail Control Systems, BlueStar’s Duane Roebuck and returning guest James Korte, each with valuable and unique experience into how this industry works compared to traditional retailers, manufacturers or distributors. How does the perception of the industry differ from the reality? How has COVID-19 impacted them? What technology is taking off? What are the challenges for resellers looking to break in and how do we market to people that may not be as easily reached as other industries?       

 

#VARValue – How does BlueStar assist VARs with entering the cannabis space?

 

TEConnecting with our guests:

James - Camp Chef Pellet Grill

Duane - Sonos Wireless Sound System

Dave - Sonos and biking

 

Cannabis Industry Resources:

BlueStar's Seed-to-Sale Tech Guide

MJ Biz Daily

Ganjapreneur

BlueStar's HybridSaaS

 

Talk to Us:

Twitter: @TEConnectPod

Email: TEConnect@bluestarinc.com