BlueStar’s VARTECH is consistently the #1 reseller channel show, and this year’s global event in San Antonio, TX, broke attendance records. We’re recapping the highlights and key moments for those who couldn’t go. What was the theme, and how did it fit with keynote speaker/musician Jimmy Yeary? What did we see on the CodeZone tradeshow floor? Which ISVs shined during TEConnect Live? What were the evening events like? It’s the episode that wouldn’t last three seconds on an angry bull.

#VARValue - For VARs that didn’t attend, what did you learn that anyone can use? 

Check Out the VARTECH 2023 Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLhOzZ0CZ_E9S1PbHGYswU7jTB0gKy-Gt&si=QNPeXUjowncVwKx1

TEConnecting with us:

Dean - Alien bodies? and wine flood

John - Hollywood strikes

Talk to us!

X/Twitter - @TEConnectPod

Email - [email protected]

Submit your topic ideas - https://www.bluestarinc.com/us-en/landing-pages/podcast-topics.html

Follow BlueStar on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/blue-star/

Subscribe to the BlueStar Nation Newsletter - https://nation.bluestarinc.com/#subscribe 

Sponsored by:

Elo Z Stands

Zebra TC73/78 Mobile Computers

By now, most of us have dabbled with ChatGPT or another generative AI, but what can it do to help improve our daily work and businesses? James Korte joins the guys for an episode recorded live at VARTECH 2023 with an audience that had plenty of thoughts. We recap the marketing uses, James updates us on what the image generators can do, and we look at a list of other ways you can deploy this technology. Finally, we compare and contrast ChatGPT, Bard, Bing Chat, LlaMA, and Claude.

Slides shown during the presentation: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1HSGKZW2Zi-RxjaCzq_2bsObZUP6JsF9M/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=100394876516957773492&rtpof=true&sd=true

TEConnecting with us:

Dean - Star Wars X-Wing model up for auction

Talk to us!

X/Twitter - @TEConnectPod

Email - [email protected]

Submit your topic ideas - https://www.bluestarinc.com/us-en/landing-pages/podcast-topics.html

Follow BlueStar on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/blue-star/

Subscribe to the BlueStar Nation Newsletter - https://nation.bluestarinc.com/#subscribe 

Sponsored by:

Zebra Refresh the Base

Elo M50

A “legacy” POS can be a reseller’s bane as they strive to introduce upgraded technology and modernization to retail and hospitality. CBS’ Jeremy Julian (host of The Restaurant Technology Guys Podcast) is back on the show to explain his three-step approach to encouraging POS replacement. How does he define a legacy POS, and why are businesses hesitant to update? What should end users consider, why is connectivity important, and what does the ideal VAR/ISV look like when an opportunity comes along? It’s the episode that owes Jim Roddy a few drinks!

#VARValue - Software often gets the most attention when discussing new POS, but why is evaluating the latest hardware just as crucial when upgrading? 

TEConnecting with us:

Jeremy - ChatGPT

Dean - Flying taxis

John - EVs and auto insurance

Talk to us!

X/Twitter - @TEConnectPod

Email - [email protected]

Submit your topic ideas - https://www.bluestarinc.com/us-en/landing-pages/podcast-topics.html

Follow BlueStar on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/blue-star/

Subscribe to the BlueStar Nation Newsletter - https://nation.bluestarinc.com/#subscribe 

Sponsored by:

Zebra Legacy Printer Refresh

Elo M50 Mobile Computer

As the crew recovers from VARTECH ‘23, here’s another round of interesting lists, stories, and water cooler topics to ponder.

• The US's top-ranked podcast subjects

TEConnecting with us:

Dean - Cruise cuts its robotaxi fleet and Brady Bunch home for sale

John - TEC Beef - school technology

Talk to us!

X/Twitter - @TEConnectPod

Email - [email protected]

Submit your topic ideas - https://www.bluestarinc.com/us-en/landing-pages/podcast-topics.html

Follow BlueStar on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/blue-star/

Subscribe to the BlueStar Nation Newsletter - https://nation.bluestarinc.com/#subscribe 

Sponsored by:

Elo Linux Devices

Zebra Healthcare Device eBook

The term “emerging technologies” can come with a lot of baggage for VARs who may not be interested in taking on the risk of unproven solutions but could also miss out on the benefits of embracing the next trend as it takes off. Intel’s Justin Christiansen joins the pod this week to help us take a practical approach to those concerns. What stories does Justin tell to explain the transformative experiences of emerging tech? How does Intel help the reseller channel drive success? What advice does he have to prepare end users for the coming AI wave?

#VARValue - What should we expect from Intel at VARTECH and beyond for those not attending?

References:

McKinsey - The State of AI in 2023

TEConnect Podcast Intel Playlist

BlueStar Nation - Are End User Orgs Embracing AI? (Survey)

TEConnecting with us:

Justin - Generative AI assisting with metadata

Dean - AI recipe generator gone wrong

John - Food packaging that detects contamination

Talk to us!

X/Twitter - @TEConnectPod

Email - [email protected]

Submit your topic ideas - https://www.bluestarinc.com/us-en/landing-pages/podcast-topics.html

Follow BlueStar on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/blue-star/

Subscribe to the BlueStar Nation Newsletter - https://nation.bluestarinc.com/#subscribe 

Sponsored by:

Elo Wallaby Pro

Zebra Warehouse Visibility Study

We have another panel of amazing guests with a live audience watching and asking questions.  This time, we’re talking POS & payment trends and other topics important to retail & hospitality. Our guests? Zebra’s Director of Product Management (POS/Payments) Andrew Kim, CDW Director of Strategic Industries Andy Szanger, and Retail Management Hero CEO Jeff Riley. Is the shift happening toward mobile & tabPOS, especially in SMB? How will PCI 4.0 implementation impact payment solutions? How does the move from Windows to cloud-based software affect VAR/ISV relationships? What other opportunities exist when a business takes POS upgrades off the table?

#VARValue - (Questions from the audience)

• What are the cybersecurity risks of using an all-in-one mobile device for POS, payments, inventory management, etc.?

Request Your Zebra Refresh the Base Report!

TEConnecting with us:

Jeff - ChatGPT

Andrew - RFID for retail shopping

Andy - NYC bans TikTok on city-owned devices

Talk to us!

X/Twitter - @TEConnectPod

Email - [email protected]

Submit your topic ideas - https://www.bluestarinc.com/us-en/landing-pages/podcast-topics.html

Follow BlueStar on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/blue-star/

Subscribe to the BlueStar Nation Newsletter - https://nation.bluestarinc.com/#subscribe 

Sponsored by:

Zebra Sales Trifecta

Elo Z-Stands

An epic AI trilogy deserves an epic conclusion, so this week, we welcomed LG’s Mike Stachura & Aaron Addison into the studio for various topics and a lot of laughter. First, we discuss some predictions for generative AI’s impact on business. Next, we dig into the importance of addressing employee experience by featuring the story of Fordlandia. Finally, what does Constantinople have to do with cybersecurity? It’s the episode that knows how to be professional and charming at the same time.

#VARValue - How is LG addressing the topics we’ve discussed today, and how are you helping VARs tackle these timely solution needs with their customers?

Check out LG's All-in-One Thin Client

TEConnecting with us:

Mike - Aliens

Aaron - Electric toothbrushes

Dean - Acoustic hacking

John - Self-repossessing cars

Talk to us!

X/Twitter - @TEConnectPod

Email - [email protected]

Submit your topic ideas - https://www.bluestarinc.com/us-en/landing-pages/podcast-topics.html

Follow BlueStar on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/blue-star/

Subscribe to the BlueStar Nation Newsletter - https://nation.bluestarinc.com/#subscribe 

Sponsored by:

Elo Large Format

Zebra Sell & Win Club

Part two of our AI trilogy focuses on the specific benefits and use cases for retail, and we turned to the globe-trotting Tony Boncore from Honeywell for his expertise. How has AI already been part of retail? What are retailers’ current expectations and barriers to adoption? How does AI impact checkout and inventory management? What is Tony watching for in the next 5-10 years?

#VARValue - For VARs interested in developing partnerships to go to market with AI solutions, where do you recommend they start, and how should they vet potential partners?

Honeywell Report: Navigating the AI Revolution

TEConnecting with us:

Tony - AI capabilities, including recipe testing

Dean - Wearable sweat sensor

John - How do we know it's really ET calling?

Talk to us!

X/Twitter - @TEConnectPod

Email - [email protected]

Submit your topic ideas - https://www.bluestarinc.com/us-en/landing-pages/podcast-topics.html

Follow BlueStar on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/blue-star/

Subscribe to the BlueStar Nation Newsletter - https://nation.bluestarinc.com/#subscribe 

Sponsored by:

Honeywell CT30XP

Elo M50 Mobile Computer

Zebra Future-Proofing Retailers eBook

This week begins a trilogy of episodes with artificial intelligence at the center of the conversation. To kick things off, meldCX’s VP of Business Development, Raffi Vartian, is here to give his experienced perspective. How does an AI expert view the explosion of interest in recent months? What are “visual analytics,” and how does it fit into what resellers are currently doing? How does AI take digital signage to the next level? What’s the use case for education?

#VARValue - Are these AI solutions viable when you get below the Tier 1 retailers or hospitality venues? 

Referenced Articles/Sources

Innovative Digital Signage Campaigns

Using AI in Schools

TEConnecting with us:

Raffi - Next-gen communication networks (like Starlink)

Dean - Electrified cement

John - JWST stellar nursery image

Talk to us!

X/Twitter - @TEConnectPod

Email - [email protected]

Submit your topic ideas - https://www.bluestarinc.com/us-en/landing-pages/podcast-topics.html

Follow BlueStar on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/blue-star/

Subscribe to the BlueStar Nation Newsletter - https://nation.bluestarinc.com/#subscribe 

Sponsored by:

Zebra Refresh the Base

Elo Linux Devices

Consumers are returning to brick-and-mortar stores, but after years of convenience and digital shopping, expectations for seamless, fast, and maybe even fun visits are higher than ever. This week, CDW’s Andy Szanger joins the pod to discuss how retail tech can improve customer journeys and create an “experience” that keeps them coming back. How much do consumers value their time? Why is improving employee experience just as important as customers? Are experiential solutions just for Tier 1 retailers?

#VARValue - What new retail tech, innovations, or trends should VARs be learning more about that is likely to become part of their tech stack in the future?

Referenced Articles:

Forbes - "How Tech is Making the Retail Industry More Efficient and Improving the Customer Experience"

Lightspeed - "What is Experiential Retail?"

Lowe's "Project Unlock" - Video

TEConnecting with us:

Andy - Web3

Dean - Netflix Adds New Subscribers

John - Apple Fixes "Ducking" Problem

Talk to us!

Twitter - @TEConnectPod

Email - [email protected]

Submit your topic ideas - https://www.bluestarinc.com/us-en/landing-pages/podcast-topics.html

Follow BlueStar on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/blue-star/

Subscribe to the BlueStar Nation Newsletter - https://nation.bluestarinc.com/#subscribe 

Sponsored by:

Elo Z-Stands

Zebra Retail Fulfillment eBook

Toshiba TCX810