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PODCAST

BlueStar Nation

BlueStar Nation

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

technology marketing

All Episodes

58:53

Retail Modernization w/Intel’s Kristen Call

BlueStar Nation ·

2023/05/18

Adopting the latest technology and trends is helping retailers of all tiers separate from their competitors and keep up with consumer expectations, but what does that modernization mean, and where can VARs and ISVs find opportunities, especially at the SMB level? Intel’s Retail Industry Advisor, Kristen Call, is here to explain! What does digital transformation look like in retail? What do retailers get wrong when modernizing, and how can our channel help? What is the “blended” approach? It’s the

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54:26

Deep-Dive Warehouse Tech Survey

BlueStar Nation ·

2023/05/11

We’re breaking down another BlueStar Nation blog article; this time, our findings from a lengthy warehouse and supply chain professionals survey. Where do they typically encounter errors in daily practices? What kind of hardware is most used? Is RFID table stakes now? What technology issues do companies trust to in-house vs. outside IT firms? What emerging technology do they expect to invest in soon? If you don’t care about the answers to those questions, you’re in the wrong business! #VARValue -

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49:55

TEC Bytes 10: TEC-ing Care of Business

BlueStar Nation ·

2023/05/04

We’re digging into the latest hot topics, news articles, and water cooler discussions, so you don’t have to! ProMat 2023 UK’s 4-Day Work Week Pilot Results State of the US EV Charging Network How Far Does $100K Go? Where Generations Get Their News Kiosk Marketplace Census Report #VARValue - Any takeaways from these stories relevant to the channel? TEConnecting with us: Dean - Beetles absorbing water...through their butts? and Free pizza for TSwift tix John - Marvel Snap mobile game Talk to

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01:09:27

How Self-Service is Changing Hospitality & Retail...

BlueStar Nation ·

2023/04/27

Over 40% of people prefer ordering from a kiosk, a growing trend accelerated by COVID but has persisted due to labor shortages, convenience, and generational preferences. This week, Epson’s David Vander Dussen & Josh Stanphill return to the pod to explain the self-service trend, what it means as consumer return to stores, and where opportunities lie for VARs. How does self-service affect label printing needs? What does “experiential” retail mean to our guests? What trends are they watching

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50:23

Food & Beverage Distribution Tech w/CIS Group’s Julie...

BlueStar Nation ·

2023/04/20

There are quite a few steps between food & beverage manufacturing and what we ultimately consume, and those steps are filled with the need for technology to manage processes, meet delivery demands, and grow brand recognition for companies large and small. This week, CIS Group’s Julie Desroches joins us to share her experience in F&B that’s informed her expertise in software solutions for the industry. What’s changed in distribution over the years, and what challenges do companies face to get their

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01:07:25

Marketing Tips from Channel Pros w/John Lamb, Jody...

BlueStar Nation ·

2023/04/13

We’re not shy to talk about the importance of effective marketing to build your brand and illustrate your value-add to current and potential customers, but don’t just take it from us! This week, we brought in a panel of experts from around the channel to weigh in: Elo CMO John Lamb, Barcoding VP of Marketing Jody Costa, and 42Gears’ Director of Channel Marketing Jean Secrist. Why do they think marketing is important? What tips do they have for VARs & ISVs working on a budget or with minimal staff

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01:15:18

Global Retail Trends w/BlueStar’s Richard Austin &...

BlueStar Nation ·

2023/04/06

“That’s an American thing.” Trends and tech adoption can differ in the US from the rest of the world, so we thought we’d explore that in the retail industry. We’re joined by two members of the BlueStar EU team, Richard Austin & Jord Malcorps, who start by sharing some things they find very different about the states. On the retail side, we discuss how businesses juggle tech needs in-store and online. Is omnichannel table stakes at this point? Why has Europe been more open to payment flexibility

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01:05:55

AI Asked, We Answered

BlueStar Nation ·

2023/03/30

It started with a simple request from Jody Costa to ChatGPT: “What questions should I ask the BlueStar TEConnect podcast?” The results are a baseline for our pod, industry, and our thoughts on the channel, so we thought we’d answer them! What led us to start the pod, and what have we learned? What are our thoughts on diversity & inclusion in the tech industry? What emerging tech are we watching? It’s the episode that’s got new digs but the same goofballs on the mic. #VARValue - Could you share

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01:04:21

End-User Surveys – AI & Restaurant POS

BlueStar Nation ·

2023/03/23

To bring additional value to VARs & ISVs, we’ve conducted multiple surveys for our BlueStar Nation blog with end users in various industries to gain insights into how they use technology and where opportunities might lie. In this episode, we explore two surveys, starting with artificial intelligence. Who’s using it and why? What do businesses think would need to change to incorporate AI? Next, we tackle restaurant point-of-sale insights. How long are systems in use? What are the most popular POS

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01:05:29

Modernizing Sales Management & Process w/Terry Miller

BlueStar Nation ·

2023/03/16

The sales and sales management landscape constantly changes, but it’s always a good time to reevaluate your prospecting and client management approach. Terry Miller, President of V-KATA, is here to explain what he sees from his time selling in the channel. Where does he see stagnation occurring? What are salespeople doing right and wrong? How did good leaders pivot during the pandemic? What is poor CRM management doing to the sales process, and how are Terry and V-KATA trying to fix it? It’s the

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01:00:47

POS – One Size Fits All? w/Auto-Star’s Josh Wintoniak

BlueStar Nation ·

2023/03/09

VARs know that point-of-sale hardware and software is not a “copy & paste” proposition. Every retailer or restaurant has differing needs or industry-specific concerns, yet cheap or “free” POS providers will suggest that any setup will do. Auto-Star’s Josh Wintoniak joins us this week to dispel that myth and help explain how to talk to end-users, why back-of-the-house is an essential part of the conversation, and what types of retailers benefit from specialized POS systems. It’s the episode that

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01:06:49

Can AI Replace Your Marketing Department?...

BlueStar Nation ·

2023/03/02

Unless you’ve been on a severe information detox, you’ve probably seen more than a few stories recently about AI and various tools for content creation. Not ones to miss a trend, we asked Barcoding’s Jody Costa to return to the pod to weigh in. She shares her experience with ChatGPT and similar programs, whether AI will impact marketing jobs and the positives and negatives of using them in our business. It’s the episode that still feels pretty good about its job security. #VARValue - Beyond

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58:48

TEC Bytes 9: TEConnect Unchained

BlueStar Nation ·

2023/02/23

It’s time to riff on more exciting stories, trends, lists, and technology. Topics Covered: The Most Sinful Cities in America MIT’s 10 Breakthrough Technologies for ‘23 A Chronicle of the Four-Day Workweek AI – What Do Workers Think & What’s China Doing? Tulsa Bet on Remote Workers US Migration Patterns Cracking Down on Digital Piracy TEConnecting with us: Dean - TEC BEEF: Indoor security drone and the Corruption Perceptions Index John - Businesses wasting money on software licenses Talk to

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58:11

The State of the Government VAR w/Jeff Smith

BlueStar Nation ·

2023/02/16

Government consultant and expert Jeff Smith is back to catch us up on what's been happening with public sector technology. How is the spending of approved U.S. funds going? What's Jeff's take on public safety as a branch eager for new tech? Are there opportunities in education? Finally, we asked him to look into his crystal ball and give us predictions and trends to watch out for in 2023. #VARValue - What should VARs be doing now with their government accounts, and whom should they talk with to

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01:13:28

What is Web3? w/James Korte

BlueStar Nation ·

2023/02/09

After he threw out an idea to discuss Web3, we turned the tables on James Korte and invited him to join us! First, a quick review of Web1 & 2—essentially what the internet has been to date—before explaining what Web3 could be and why. How would Web3 be built? What advantages and disadvantages would it create? Does Web3’s connection to blockchain & cryptocurrency concern us? Is this internet iteration feasible, or is the idea the path to something else? #VARValue - Does this mean anything to our

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48:18

Automation Opportunities w/MicroTouch’s Tyler Wells

BlueStar Nation ·

2023/02/02

Automation is increasingly a part of our daily lives, and we’ve preached it as a way for VARs to make their own business more efficient. In this episode, MicroTouch’s Tyler Wells helps us identify how they can take that automation to their customers, combating labor shortages, addressing new expectations for speed, and staying ahead of the competition. How do touchscreens fit into the conversation? What industries benefit the most? When should VARs get in on robotics? Tyler's XaaS Journal

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57:20

Crowd Management Technology w/WaitTime’s Zack Klima

BlueStar Nation ·

2023/01/26

No one likes crowds, long lines, or waiting. We didn’t before COVID changed how we felt about being around strangers, and we certainly don’t today--but how do retailers, hospitality, and event companies find the right solutions to a problem that’s been around as long as people have congregated? Zack Klima, Founder & CEO of WaitTime, has his own story about the frustration of waiting which led to his solution, crowd management technology that benefits fans, attendees, and customers but also provides

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01:01:23

Reflections & Resolutions: 2023 Kickoff

BlueStar Nation ·

2023/01/19

We’re kicking off the fourth year of the pod by looking back and ahead. First, we reflect on 2022 and the stories, trends, surprises, disappointments, and personal moments that stood out to us in the channel, our lives, and the world at large. After that, it’s fun with “Best of” lists, predictions and resolutions, our top episodes of the year, and more! ALERT!! We need YOUR help! Please send us your ideas for the podcast. What topics, industries, technologies, and partners interest you

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01:35:21

Star Wars Nerdfest: Episode III

BlueStar Nation ·

2022/12/29

*Star Wars SPOILERS in this episode* We wrap up another year on the pod with our third annual Star Wars discussion, and we have a lot to cover! Would any of us pay $5000 for a Star Wars-themed drink? Is the amount of SW content too little or too much? We discuss "The Book of Boba Fett," "Obi-Wan Kenobi," "Tales of the Jedi," and "Andor." Are the prequels cool again? What's coming next year? What are some VFX sequences that stand out to us in the franchise? Talk to us! Twitter - @TEConnectPod Email

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01:19:07

The Tech That Made Us w/Sarah Schlueter & Sam Hughes

BlueStar Nation ·

2022/12/22

Working in this channel, you have to be pretty fond of technology, and it's probably been a big part of your life. In this episode, we're reflecting on the gadgets and gizmos we grew up (or old) with, but to make sure we had some perspective beyond John & Dean's pre-internet days, we brought in a couple of Millennials in Sam & Sarah. Are we early tech adopters? What was our first computer? First portable music player? Gaming system? Mobile phone? Finally, we discuss "old" tech that seems absurd

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184 results

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