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TEConnect is the podcast that tackles the news, trends, and technologies impacting the specialty IT reseller channel, software companies, and hardware manufacturers. Hosted by John Martin & Dean Reverman. Tell us what YOU want to hear about: teconnect@bluestarinc.com
Episodes
Thursday May 05, 2022
Thursday May 05, 2022
“Crypto is a great buzzword…but you’ve gotta find a practical use for it.” So says BlockChyp CEO Jon Decker, who joins us this week to discuss this aspect of currency and payments that still feels a bit bleeding edge. What does the crypto market look like right now? What’s keeping it from becoming another source of recurring revenue like other payments have? How does this discussion compare to the rollout of contactless payments? It’s the episode that would like to talk to you about TEConnectCoin.
#VARValue - What’s the “pitch” for VARs and ISVs to both consider making crypto part of their strategy and for how to get their customers to do the same?
Referenced Articles:
TEConnecting with us:
Jon - NFTs
Dean - Pay with your hand
Talk to us!
Twitter - @TEConnectPod
Email - TEConnect@bluestarinc.com
Submit your ideas for the pod: https://www.bluestarinc.com/us-en/landing-pages/podcast-topics.html
Sponsored by:
Zebra Partner Connect for ISVs (and BlueStar's TEConnect Program)
Thursday Apr 28, 2022
Thursday Apr 28, 2022
Dean, John & Marko have been traveling, so we thought we'd revisit our most popular episode from the first year of the pod! It's also a great refresher on the struggle to introduce contactless payments to widespread use ahead of next week's new episode on Cryptocurrency. Enjoy!
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Contactless has become quite the buzzword this year, but contactless payments are not new. This week, we’re joined by two VPs from the world of payments, PAX Technology’s Heather Hatch & EVO Payments’ PJ Tierney. They help us understand the technology and why this movement isn’t as much of a headache as the switch to EMV was. What makes a payment contactless? Why was the US so far behind before the pandemic? What are the hardware needs? How are software partners adapting and how does BlueStar help? It’s another episode where John complains about having any contact with other humans.
#VARValue – What should VARs do to help retailers get over the contactless hurdle?
TEConnecting with us:
PJ - Niche vertical startups
Heather - Innovation in a pandemic
Dean - Walmart COVID test kit drone delivery
John - Raised by Wolves on HBO Max
Sponsored by:
Honeywell Smart Talk
Zebra EC30 Mobile Computer
Talk to us!
Twitter - @TEConnectPod
Email - TEConnect@bluestarinc.com
Thursday Apr 21, 2022
Thursday Apr 21, 2022
It’s once again time to nibble on a few stories and topics from the world of science, tech and business. Listen for your next watercooler discussion or to impress your friends and family!
- China’s “Thousand Talents Program”
- World’s Most Innovative Companies
- Using AI to Gauge Emotional Intelligence
- The Wendyverse
- Global Minimum Tax
- Best Cities for Remote Work
TEConnecting with us:
Dean - Space Balloon & Hydra Market shut down
John - Raised by Wolves on HBO MAX
Talk to us!
Twitter - @TEConnectPod
Email - TEConnect@bluestarinc.com
Send your topic ideas or TEC Bytes stories!
Sponsored by:
Elo - M60 Pay
Zebra - Modernizing the Warehouse
Thursday Apr 14, 2022
Thursday Apr 14, 2022
Sifting through our inboxes, it may feel like email marketing is more junk than useful, but when done properly, it’s still one of the most cost-effective and high-ROI methods for reaching your targeted audience. Barcoding Inc.’s Jody Costa returns to the pod to help us understand how to be more deliberate and coordinated with our emails. How do you build a strong list of subscribers? How do you keep them from unsubscribing? What should you be sending them? It’s the episode that reminds Dean that Millennials are actually adults now!
#VARValue – What social media and/or email platforms do you recommend for resellers to use? (Thanks to George Biastre for the question and for suggesting the topic!)
Referenced Articles:
- Is Email Marketing Dead? - HubSpot
- Is Email Marketing Dead? Definitely No. - Mageplaza
TEConnecting with us:
Jody - Fire pits
Dean - Meta's Universal Translator
John - Esquire's 50 Best Sci-Fi Novels list
Talk to us!
Twitter - @TEConnectPod
Email - TEConnect@bluestarinc.com
Sponsored by:
Intel On-Demand Webinar - "Powering the Smart Stores & QSRs of the Future"
Elo - I-Series 4
Thursday Apr 07, 2022
Thursday Apr 07, 2022
We’re going to assume you don’t still treat sales like a strictly transactional process (and if you do, you definitely need to listen), but what does it really mean to be a consultative partner? Elo’s Luke Wilwerding is back to help us answer that question. Why is a customer-centric approach more important than ever? What does a consultative sale look like from start to close? How do salespeople overcome hurdles like objections or asking for the business?
#VARValue – How does Elo fit into the consultative sales cycle?
Referenced Articles:
7 Ways to Win Deals with Consultative Sales - HubSpot
TEConnecting with us:
Luke - Edge computing
Dean - Virgin Galactic selling space flights
John - Stir dating app for single parents
Talk to us!
Twitter - @TEConnectPod
Email - TEConnect@bluestarinc.com
Submit your podcast ideas: https://www.bluestarinc.com/us-en/landing-pages/podcast-topics.html
Sponsored by:
Thursday Mar 31, 2022
Thursday Mar 31, 2022
Most industries understand the value of using enterprise mobile devices over consumer options, but are they properly caring for, storing, and maintaining them to maximize their potential? This week, Randy Murphy from Zebra joins the pod to discuss that very problem and a simple solution—deploying “intelligent” cabinets. What’s the need here? What options are available? What does the ROI and benefits look like? It’s the episode that reminds you that Sheriff ZAM is watching!
#VARValue – How does selling/deploying intelligent cabinets and storage options help VARs sell more devices and services in general?
TEConnecting with us:
Randy - Bringing broadband to the world
Dean - MIT Top Potential Tech Breakthroughs
John - Resurrecting the Tasmanian Tiger
Talk to us!
Twitter - @TEConnectPod
Email - TEConnect@bluestarinc.com
Submit Your Topic Suggestions: https://www.bluestarinc.com/us-en/landing-pages/podcast-topics.html
Sponsored by:
Zebra Intelligent Cabinets
Thursday Mar 24, 2022
Thursday Mar 24, 2022
Sports betting is a fast-growing industry around the world, especially in the U.S. since a 2018 ruling opened it up for states to legalize it. As existing and specialized venues rush to capitalize, there’s opportunity to provide innovative technology solutions. Elo’s Jim Foster returns to discuss what’s happening and how retailers are attempting to attract gamers. How can digital signage help build exciting social gaming environments? Where should hospitality resellers focus their attention? What other entertainment venues are benefitting from modern display tech? We’re “all in” on this episode!
#VARValue – How does Elo help VARs equip their gaming customers with the best solutions?
What’s TEConnecting with us?
Jim – EV market
Dean – Frosties NFT scam
John – Amazon shuttering bookstores (and the Amazon Go SNL sketch)
Talk to us!
Twitter - @TEConnectPod
Email – TEConnect@bluestarinc.com
Send us your topic suggestions! - https://www.bluestarinc.com/us-en/landing-pages/podcast-topics.html
Sponsored by:
Elo I-Series 4
Thursday Mar 17, 2022
Thursday Mar 17, 2022
Look, robots are cool, and we like to joke about whether a Terminator-style world takeover could happen, but they also have very practical value when used alongside workers, especially in warehousing, distribution & manufacturing. Mark Wheeler, Zebra’s Director of Supply Chain Solutions, joins the show to discuss the current market for robots. What’s holding supply chain leaders back from implementing augmentation technology? What happens to facilities that embrace this kind of automation? What kind of data and analytics can robots bring to enterprises?
#VARValue – What type of customer benefits the most from robots? Any success stories? What’s the future for robots in other industries? (Shoutout to Cory McClelland from Arrowhead Resellers for the topic and these questions!)
Referenced Articles:
TEConnecting with us:
Mark - Robots!
Dean - ISS to be retired
John - The average person doesn't have a chance with the smart home
Talk to us!
Twitter - @TEConnectPod
Email - TEConnect@bluestarinc.com
Submit YOUR ideas for the pod - https://www.bluestarinc.com/us-en/landing-pages/podcast-topics.html
Sponsored by:
Thursday Mar 10, 2022
Thursday Mar 10, 2022
It’s another installment of TEC Bytes, where Dean & John riff on some topics in the world of science, tech, news, and business. Gather around the watercooler or video conference and discuss!
- The mystery of “Never COVID”
- Robot umps coming to Triple A baseball
- Safest Cities in America?
- Super Bowl commercials
- Population growth hits a new low
- How to Be a Disruptor
- Top Tech Trends
TEConnecting with us:
Dean - Pollination robots and Belgium introduces the 4-day workweek
John - CES 2022 tech
Talk to us!
Twitter - @TEConnectPod
Email - TEConnect@bluestarinc.com
Send us your suggestions for episodes or TEC Bytes - https://www.bluestarinc.com/us-en/landing-pages/podcast-topics.html
Sponsored by:
Elo M60 Pay
Zebra TC Mobile Computers
Monday Mar 07, 2022
Monday Mar 07, 2022
We're in year 3 of the pod, but still bringing you the same hot topics, industry trends, innovations, tips and, of course, technology solutions you've come to expect! Tell us what you want to hear about on Twitter (@TEConnectPod) or email us: TEConnect@bluestarinc.com
What's TEConnecting with You?