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 n…

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 …

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…

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…

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 …

The modern customer is continually evolving, which demands that sales tactics also change, especially in our complex channel model. This week, BlueStar Canada’s President, Michel Sirois, shares his experience and insights on a highly relevant topic to our work. Is the new “generation” of buyers actually an age thing? How do we approach buyers with …

It’s been three years since StayLinked CTO Justin Griffith last appeared on the pod. He discussed the struggle to get warehouses to adopt new technology, even during the pandemic. Has anything changed since then? How is AI impacting the conversation? What other emerging supply chain technologies is he watching? Most importantly, what does Justin th…

Traceability is more important than ever in the food supply chain, as it allows quick and efficient tracking and halting of potential contaminants and foodborne illnesses. This week, food supply chain expert Jim Hilton joins us (in the studio!) to explain the opportunities for VARs. Why are we seeing more recalls? How does the direct-to-consumer ma…

A printer is only as good as its ability to print. That makes the supplies and consumables, like labels, paper, printheads, and more, critical components for a total printer solution and an opportunity for resellers to make steady recurring revenue! BlueStar’s Jessica Kroth, who has over 15 years of experience and a passion for the topic, shares he…

In our industry, looking back can be as important as looking forward, so this week, we’re tapping into a channel veteran for insights and lessons. Code Corporation’s Dave Judy has nearly 50 years of experience in retail, sales, and barcode technology. What’s his background, and how has Code grown & changed? What is his selling philosophy, and why d…

Storefronts and public venues offer plenty of opportunities for national and local brands to market & advertise. It’s also a potential source of recurring revenue for retailers, venue owners, and VARs. That’s the idea behind pDOOH (Programmatic Digital Out-of-Home) advertising, which uses “monetized & managed digital signage” in highly trafficked a…

RFID adoption is rapidly increasing, but traditional AIDC barcode VARs may still be uncertain if they want to add the technology to their portfolio. This week, TSC Printronix's RFID expert, Chris Brown, acknowledges the complexity of RFID solutions alongside the potential for your business. He presents what he sees as four clear options for barcodi…

When the guys need a last-minute guest, bringing in James Korte and telling him to talk marketing is never a bad idea! James predictably nails it with a dive into SEO strategy and how SMB solution providers can position themselves high in organic searches. How long does it take? Where do you start? What should you create? How do you know it's worki…

We're sifting through the data from another BlueStar Nation end-user survey (sponsored by Samsung): 125 retailer leaders shared their concerns, expectations, and perceptions about deploying digital displays. Why aren't they utilizing it? How would they if they did? Are their cost expectations accurate? Who do they think would be responsible for pur…

We’re covering six more topics in technology, business, entertainment, and more! Topics Discussed: MIT’s 10 Breakthrough Technologies for 2024 US companies that failed in China 50 years of video game revenues Most popular apps by downloads LinkedIn for dating? CES 2024 (and this article) TEConnecting with us: Dean - "Shotski" record John - Strike F…

VARs and MSPs can sometimes be represented as operating in two different, siloed segments of the B2B technology market, but in a world where “one source” partners and consultants are more valuable than ever, collaboration is the future. This week, we’re joined by Shane Mishler, VP & COO of SD Tech, an MSP that’s already doing just that. How does Sh…

Finding a parking place has been a struggle as long as there have been motor vehicles. That’s especially true in big cities, at sporting events, entertainment venues, airports, and anywhere else that must accommodate large numbers of drivers. This week on the pod, OmniQ’s John Whiteman walks us through the technology that’s simplifying parking for …

We’re kicking off a new year of the podcast by exploring a topic that most of us have struggled with at some point--finding the right “fit” for our clothes--and some cool new tech that’s tackling the problem and improving apparel retailers’ bottom line in the process. We’re joined by Intel partner Fit:match’s Founder & CEO Haniff Brown. Fit:match u…

Another year of the podcast is closing out, so it must be time for the annual Star Wars episode! Sam & Marko join us to talk about the latest news for the franchise, including new movies, Dave Filoni’s promotion, and the end of Disney’s Galactic Starcruiser. We recap season 3 of The Mandalorian and the first (only?) of Ahsoka before John & Sam pitc…

We have an all-star lineup for the latest round of Tech Trivia. Dean defends his recent crown (from episode 150) against two-time champion Whitney Gerrety, Sarah Schlueter, and Sam Hughes. They’ll tackle three rounds of increasingly difficult questions and have a few laughs on the way. Who stayed up late making costumes? Who comes from behind to ti…

We’re kicking off three weeks of fun eps to conclude our year. First up, more TEC Bytes…random stories, lists, and observations to discuss and debate around the watercooler, at a holiday party, or with that family member who still gives fruitcakes as presents. Topics: Top Hotel Bars Better thinking skills for kids The average “global human day” Ame…

Live sporting events are still very popular, but the expectations of an attendee have grown a bit beyond “I want to see my team win.” Fans want an experience, and venues want them to stay (and pay) for as long as possible. Technology is becoming a big part of those experiences, so we wanted to explore the potential opportunities for VARs. Elo’s Rai…

As we wrap up National Diabetes Month, we talk to BlueStar's Healthcare BDM, JoAnna Witting, to discuss how technology can assist healthcare providers with managing chronic conditions, impact public health, and improve patient outcomes. How do virtual care and remote patient monitoring help rural and underserved communities? What solutions make in-…

Labor and economic issues have recently led to some contraction in the warehouse market. Still, Zebra’s 2023 Warehousing Vision Study indicates optimism and growth for the future, led by the growing adoption of automation technology. This week, Zebra’s Andre Luecht and Hy-Tek Intralogistics John Klare, Jr. explain what they see and hear from wareho…

As holiday shopping ramps up, we spoke with Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions’ Fredrik Carlegren, who helped us break down an excellent white paper that lays out three obstacles facing retailers to improve the customer experience through technology. What does Fredrik think got us where we are today? How do we close the gap between intention and imp…

Operating systems are necessarily more complex than ever. Still, they must also be simple to use, reliable, and secure, especially the OS that runs digital signage and kiosks for retail or hospitality businesses. This week, Google’s Brandy Au and HP’s David Gosman join the show to explain the OS progression, trends, and current needs. How are marke…

Retailers are never going to stop being interested in improving the customer experience. We have more to discuss in upcoming episodes, but we thought we should revisit this episode with CDW's Andy Szanger. * * * (Originally released Aug. 3, 2023) Consumers are returning to brick-and-mortar stores, but after years of convenience and digital shopping…

Outsourcing some aspects of a business can be beneficial, but when it comes to color label printing, especially for highly regulated and rapidly changing industries, it’s best to do it yourself. This week, Epson’s Andy Scherz & Mark Middendorf, passionate advocates for color labeling, join the show to explain and help you make the case to end-users…

Looking for more interesting articles, surveys, and topics to share with colleagues and clients? Dean & John are riffing on six more water cooler subjects for your listening pleasure. It’s the episode that shoehorns some creepiness in time for Friday the 13th! Topics Discussed: The most famous streets in the US Americans' attitudes toward retiremen…

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…

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 …

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 hesita…

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 Best beer cities in America Americans' relationship with alcohol Which jobs will shrink the most in the next decade IBM quantum computer reaches key milestone Ranking brand reputations TE…

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 d…

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 …

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. Fin…

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 watchin…

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 …

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 muc…

The AI conversation has not slowed since we recorded this episode in the spring, so it was a good time to revisit our conversation with Barcoding's Jody Costa about generative AI tools, their potential to improve marketing efforts, and what to beware of. We'll return with a new episode next week on Customer Journey and Experiential Shopping! * * * …

Most businesses know they have to do some marketing to let potential customers know who they are and what they do while retaining existing business, but this week, we’re taking those efforts up a notch. IPCMobile’s VP of Marketing, Tolgar Alpagut, joins to explain how. What is attribution mirage, and how is it harder to know where to market? What’s…

We’re back to dig into a new BlueStar Nation survey (sponsored by our friends at Elo!) with 100 actual retailers about the self-service technology they currently deploy. Who did we talk to? What’s their perception of the cost of self-service solutions? How do they use them? How often do they experience technical problems? It’s the episode that does…

Electric vehicle sales are rapidly growing, bolstered by government incentives, environmental concerns, and substantial investment in charging infrastructure—an opportunity for the reseller industry. This week, BlueStar’s Emerging Technologies BDM, Ben Simon, joins us to explain the landscape for EV charging, our partnership with Loop, and how VARs…

Retailers are balancing a “new normal” of heightened customer expectations in-store and online with staffing shortages and inventory challenges. The back-of-house, supply chain, and warehousing aspects of retail require better tech solutions that VARs need to understand and drive. This week, Zebra’s Retail and Warehousing/Supply Chain SMEs, Tim Kan…

It’s another excuse to have fun as we celebrate 150 episodes by playing another round of Tech Trivia! Whitney Gerrety is back as a two-time defending champion. Sarah Schlueter is our newest contestant, and this time, John steps out of host duties to compete. Who comes out on top, who talks smack, who’s buzzing in early, who bursts into song, and wi…

As the world shifts gears from the challenges wrought by the COVID pandemic, questions about what’s next in healthcare technology are hard to ignore. Elo’s Katharine Cummings returns to the show to discuss what she’s hearing and seeing as she returns to regular visits with healthcare orgs. What do healthcare leaders expect from tech and funding in …

We’re big fans of partner-assisted selling, a perk of working within the reseller channel. This week, we’re focusing on partnering with hardware manufacturers with our friends at Star Micronics, Kate Orara (Partner Development) & Mark Rasho (Product Integration). What does partner-assisted selling & solutions mean to them? What should VARs & ISVs e…

When a last-minute schedule change leaves us with a slot to fill, Dean & John are happy to once again riff on hot topics, interesting articles, and list debates. This week's topics: The Death of Social Media? Vinyl is Back On Top World-Changing Ideas for 2023 The Fasties Is There Science Behind Late People? Superhero Film Fatigue TEConnecting with …

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 t…

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 …