BlueStar Nation

RFID Experts Panel w/Eric Malmed, Steve Weiss, & Archit Dua

We recorded another live episode with a panel of RFID experts (Zebra’s Eric Malmed, DecisionPoint’s Steve Weiss, & RFID4U’s Archit Dua) and an eager audience. What trends and technology innovations are moving the RFID market? What recommendations or best practices can help VARs sell RFID to SMB customers? What are some specific use cases for RFID in warehousing and retail? It’s the episode that forces everyone to answer, “Is this the Year of RFID?”

 

Get your Zebra Refresh Report! https://reach.bluestarinc.com/refreshthebase 

 

#VARValue - Questions from the audience!

 

TEConnecting with us:

Archit - Apple WWDC

Eric - Tech in sports

Steve - Robotics

 

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 Outdoor Solutions

Finding Tangible Opportunities in AI w/MicroTouch's John Dittig

Is AI fatigue setting in? Maybe, but that doesn't mean there isn't a real opportunity for VARs to be found. MicroTouch's John Dittig joins the show this week to help us separate the hype from the reality of AI solutions. What industries and end-users are most interested in AI? What needs do they want to be addressed? Is SMB better suited for innovation at this point? How will AI help sell more hardware? It's an "incrinculent" episode!

 

#VARValue - How is MicroTouch approaching AI solutions, and how are you helping VARs find the right partners to solve their customer’s needs?

 

TEConnecting with us:

John D - LetzChat

Dean - Combining AI with robotics

John M - Deepfake conversations with dead loved ones

 

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:

MicroTouch's AI Town Hall

120 Grocery Execs Share Their Tech Challenges & Opportunities

We are again investigating the results of an excellent BlueStar Nation end-user survey (shout out to HP and Intel for sponsoring this one!), this time from SMB grocery leaders. The survey focused on the tech they currently use and want to deploy and where they see industry challenges that tech could solve. How are grocers addressing customer experience and collecting data? What are they most interested in improving? What opportunities for VARs does the data show?

 

Read the Article and More at BlueStar Nation

 

TEConnecting with us:

Dean - Why is ice slippery and disappearing web pages

John - AI determining ER admissions

 

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 

TEConnect Replay: Grocery Opportunities & Challenges w/Epson’s David Vander Dussen

Next week, we'll discuss the results of a grocery executive survey, exploring what technologies they are using and considering and how they envision tech impacting the industry. In preparation, we thought we'd revisit this conversation with Epson's David Vander Dussen.

*     *     *

Grocery stores are an essential service, but they’re not immune to the changing whims of consumers and the desire for convenient options and dynamic shopping experiences. The razor-thin margins they operate under can cause challenges to VARs hoping to pitch new technology, but Epson’s David Vander Dussen is back on the pod to emphasize the opportunities. Why are midsize & regional chains still seeing growth? How have grocers changed their offerings and workflow? Why is the demand for dynamic color labeling higher than ever? It’s the episode where we learn why Dean is banned from grocery shopping.

 

#VARValue—For VARs that work primarily with SMB grocer chains or local independents, what’s the pitch for implementing tech like color labeling?

 

References: 

Why Grocery Chains are Outperforming Expectations Amid Inflation

FMI study: Private brands not just about price

How to Ramp Up Online Grocery—without Breaking the Bank

The State of Grocery in North America

 

TEConnecting with us:

David - World Cup Video Assistant Referee

Dean - The success of the DART mission and robotics companies commit to not weaponizing

John - New Apple devices might confuse rollercoaster for a car crash

 

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:

Epson's New Mobilink Printers

The Tradeoffs of Retail Modernization w/Intel’s David Dobson

Retail has “grown up” a lot in the last few years, as competition and shifting customer expectations drive innovation and open the door to new technologies. But that modernization can come with some tradeoffs as retailers determine what is must-have vs. nice-to-have. Intel’s Global Retail Director, David Dobson, joins the pod to explain the outcomes that retailers are pursuing and how we can help. How is AI affecting retail? How do retail leaders determine what innovations to pursue? What’s causing hesitation, and how can VARs & ISVs become go-to solution architects for the industry?

 

#VARValue - What’s your future view on how modernization will happen on the edge and how VARs and their ISV partners can be modern solution architects? 

 

TEConnecting with us:

David - The moon landing and creation of DARPA

Dean - Project Astra

John - Dublin to NYC portal

 

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:

Intel's Podcast Playlist

Elo Quick Ship Program

AI Beyond the LLMs w/ConnecTalk's Guy-Marie Joseph

Guy-Marie Joseph is not just another AI enthusiast. He has been deeply involved in AI, studying its foundations since college. This extensive experience makes him the perfect person to help us delve into the LLM hype, explore practical use cases, and share insights on the road ahead. What does the “intelligence” part of AI really mean? What’s the next step to make AI more practical? How does ConnecTalk approach AI in their day-to-day business?

 

#VARValue - As a reseller yourself, what are some examples of how ConnecTalk has used AI to improve your internal operations and build better customer solutions?

 

TEConnecting with us:

Guy-Marie - Tools to analyze cybersecurity threats & understanding RF

Dean - Sound-suppressing silk

John - What is the ideal movie run-time?

 

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 Wallaby Pro

EV Charging & Sustainable Energy w/EVerged’s Jeff Smith

The electric & hybrid vehicle market continues to grow, spurred by government investment and consumer interest. This week, Jeff Smith, CEO of EVerged, explains why he is all-in on the market and its potential.  What trends and opportunities is he seeing? How does EVerged address sustainability questions? What makes this a perfect time to explore EV charging partnerships?

 

#VARValue—Beyond EV solutions, what else is happening in the public sector that VARs should focus on to find new opportunities? 

 

TEConnecting with us:

Jeff - X's AI & robotics initiatives, Horizon Aircraft's hybrid plane, and Zamboni EVs

Dean - Falling space junk

John - LG washer/dryer

 

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 Outdoor Open Frame Touchscreen

TEC Bytes 16 - A TEC a Day Keeps Boredom Away

Here's some new news, lists, and interesting studies to share around watercoolers both real and virtual!

• The effects of the "she"-conomy
• The coolest streets in the world
• Americans sleep less and stress more
• New airline cancellation/fee rules
• How much soda is too much?
• The end of noncompetes

TEConnecting with us:

Dean - How easy is it to brute force your password?

John - Google Maps photobomb dog

 

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:

Intel Sales Academy

Elo 70-Series Touch Monitors

TEC Beefs 2

We’re normally tech-positive on the show, but this week, Dean & John are sharing some of their “beefs” with technology, the things that frustrate or confuse them, including:

• Dynamic fast-food pricing
• The death of social media
• Pennies
• Paywalled news
• America's most popular beers
• Amazon’s “Just Walk Out” stores
• Healthcare information connectivity

It’s the episode that has a few things to get off its chest.

 

TEConnecting with us:

Dean - Designing the next moon buggy

John - Lyft

 

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 Pay 7" POS System

AI Hype, Hesitance, and Meaningful Solutions with Intel’s David Allen

Technological progress often comes in waves that are met with intense discussion, scrutiny, skepticism, and acceptance. Artificial intelligence is the latest wave disrupting the reseller channel, but one that demands a response sooner rather than later. This week, Intel’s Director of US Distribution, David Allen, is not only explaining the history of such inflection points and why AI is perhaps the most important ever but also shedding light on Intel's strategic approach to partnerships and vetted solutions. This approach is crucial in helping solution providers deliver on the hype of AI. What is the “siliconomy”? How will a "wait and see "attitude affect VARs? What has to change to go to market with emerging technologies?

 

#VARValue - How is Intel helping take BlueStar's TEConnect Program to the next level?

 

TEConnecting with us:

David - Bose headphones & a Bluetooth transmitter for airplane movie viewing

Dean - The emotion of live vs. streamed music

John - Extraordinary on Hulu

 

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