TEConnect Podcast

Navigating the Vendor/Reseller Relationship w/Epson's Brett Van Riper

Manufacturers and resellers are inevitably intertwined. One really can’t exist without the other, but understanding how to collaborate and communicate can make the difference between a successful relationship and just a company who makes stuff and a company who might sell that stuff. This week, we’re joined by Epson Channel Manager Brett Van Riper to talk about what makes a meaningful relationship in this channel. What are the best “behaviors” that inspire vendors to work with resellers and vice-versa? What pain points can complicate things? How has Epson built their partner network and what have they learned?

 

#VARValue – What is a VAR’s responsibility in keeping a vendor partnership strong?

 

TEConnecting with us:

Brett - Cloud applications

Dean - “'Dark by 2050': U.S. Faces Steep Challenges in Electrical Workforce Gap"

John – Sleep Number bed

 

Sponsored by:

Epson OmniLink TM-m30II-NT thermal receipt printer

 

Talk to us!

Twitter - @TEConnectPod

Email - TEConnect@bluestarinc.com 

No Such Thing as Normal

Are you still saying “when things go back to normal”? If so, Dean and John are here to tell you that you’re living a lie! Okay, we’re not that harsh about it, but we do think it’s important to stop planning for or expecting a return to the way life and business was conducted before 2020. What are the biggest changes that have impacted the reseller channel? What is the continued impact into 2021 and beyond? What industries are in danger of never recovering? It's the episode where Dean calls John a germaphobe and John talks about zoos.

 

#VARValue - What are some key things VARs should be considering/doing NOW to prepare for what’s next?

 

TEConnecting with us:

Dean - Sonos speakers

John - OSIRIS Rex collecting samples from Asteroid Bennu

 

Sponsored by:

Elo's Huddle Kit

Honeywell Granit XP scanner

Zebra's RFID Portfolio

 

Talk to us!

Twitter: @TEConnectPod

Email: TEConnect@bluestarinc.com 

Contactless Payments w/PAX Technology's Heather Hatch & EVO Payments' PJ Tierney

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:

EloPOS Pack

Honeywell Smart Talk

Zebra EC30 Mobile Computer

 

Talk to us!

Twitter - @TEConnectPod

Email - TEConnect@bluestarinc.com 

The Future IS Digital Signage w/Elo's Kristin Roubie

If it seems like we've been spending a lot of time on digital signage, it's for good reason. When was the last time a paper sign taped in a window or on a counter really caught your attention? Would you want important safety info or a great deal relayed on a handwritten board in a corner somewhere or on a dynamic, eye-catching display? This episode, we're joined by Kristin Roubie, Elo's Sr. Channel Manager for Interactive Solutions, to dive one last time (at least this year) into the wide world of digital signage. How has it helped businesses during COVID? How is it impacting smart cities, education and healthcare? Are touchscreens a liability now? Finally, what kind of cool tech could be used with displays in the future?

 

#VARValue - Why should VARs add digital signage to their portfolio?

 

TEConnecting with Us:

Kristin - The new Motorola Razr and the Roomba

Dean - Redefining the sales role post-COVID

John - MetaBall Studios sci-fi starship size comparisons video

 

Sponsored by:

Elo 6553L Interactive Signage

 

Talk to Us!

Twitter: @TEConnectPod

Email: TEConnect@bluestarinc.com

Last Mile Delivery w/ShipTrack's Terry Miller

You’ve probably been ordering more items from the comfort of home. As in-store operations shut down and in-person shopping became alarming during a pandemic, ship-to-home increased dramatically and is here to stay. The national, well-known shippers were used to primarily delivering to businesses, so distribution centers must now rely on local delivery networks and drivers to get packages that “last mile” to you. Terry Miller, VP of Sales for ShipTrack, joins us to discuss the importance of visibility, the hardware and services to enable last mile delivery, and how shippers are striving to build the workforce necessary to meet demand.

 

#VARValue - What can VARs gain by working with software companies like ShipTrack?

 

TEConnecting with us:

Terry - Zebra heads-up display wearable computers

Dean - 3D printed chicken nuggets

John - Apple TV Remote app

 

Sponsored by:

Elo Wallaby

Honeywell Operational Intelligence

Zebra PrintSecure

Digital Signage: Beyond the Basics w/Samsung's Philip Merced & John McAndrews

Way back in episode 16 we did a 101 course on Digital Signage (DS) to help you understand what you needed from a hardware, software and components perspective. This week, we’re digging deeper with two of Samsung’s Technical Account Managers, Philip Merced & John McAndrews. What different skills will VARs need to sell and implement DS solutions? What are the content options and how does it inform display needs? How does DS integrate with existing systems and how has it been deployed during the pandemic?

 

#VARValue - Why should VARs sell digital signage?

 

TEConnecting with us:

John McAndrews - The evolution of SSD

Philip - Micro LED like Samsung's The Wall

Dean - Digital networking and TEConnect Live

John - Air Force robot dogs

 

Sponsored by:

Samsung's BHT 55" Pro TV Terrace Edition

 

Talk to us!

Twitter: @TEConnectPod

Email: TEConnect@bluestarinc.com 

Cloud-Based Software w/Star Micronics' Jon Levin

By now, we all know about “the cloud”—that place where data can be stored and accessed without needing a physical space in our homes or on our devices. For businesses like hospitality, retail, healthcare, food service and more, cloud-based software can improve the flow of data, rapidly manage inventory and supply chain, and even impact customer experience. This week, we chat with Jon Levin, Star Micronics’ Director of Product Management, to learn more about how cloud computing works, the advantages it provides and some possible future uses.

 

#VARValue - How do VARs benefit from selling cloud-based software?

 

TEConnecting with us:

Jon - Augmented reality

Dean - MartyrMade podcast

John - "Your paper notebook could become your next tablet" - Purdue Research article

 

Talk to us!

Twitter: @TEConnectPod

Email: TEConnect@bluestarinc.com 

Smart Manufacturing w/Honeywell's Michael Noyes

Many of our topics focus on technology that’s pretty visible to us as consumers or users, but there is a lot of innovation happening in places we don’t typically see. This week, we bring in Michael Noyes, Honeywell’s VP & GM of Productivity Products, to discuss Smart Manufacturing and Industrial IoT. What is a smart factory? How does IIoT differ from the IoT we usually discuss? How is this technology integrating with existing systems? How is smart manufacturing helping companies stay open and productive in a pandemic? The robots are not really replacing us, but they are making our jobs and processes more productive.

 

#VARValue – What resources & emerging technologies should VARs be leveraging to help manufacturers get “smart”?

 

TEConnecting with us:

Mike - Digital twins & modeling for piloting and large assets

John - Digital twinning & virtual factory tours

Dean - CRISPR technology and modifying the "germ line"

 

Sponsored by:

Honeywell PX940 Industrial Printer

Content Marketing: A Guide for VARs

Ever come across a video ad or an article on social media offering information, tips or guidance on a topic of specific interest to you? Odds are, you were on the receiving end of Content Marketing, where the goal isn’t to directly sell you something, but indirectly lead you to learning more about a product or service that can solve a problem or address a need. It’s an effective tool for generating leads or raising awareness for your brand, but it’s also a slower, long-term play than traditional advertising. BlueStar’s Digital Marketing Manager James Korte returns to discuss. What kind of content can you use? What are the goals? What makes an effective campaign and what tools do you need to get started?

 

#VARValue – We discuss a couple successful BlueStar Appware Campaigns for end user lead generation.

 

Resources:

• Example eBook on Veterinary Practice Management
• Free & Inexpensive Marketing Tools presentation

 

Stats of Note:

• 91% of B2B marketers use Content Marketing
• Tuesdays & Wednesdays are most common for content consumption
  • Q3 and Q4 have higher rates, especially in November
• 30% of content requests come from the IT sector
• Nurtured leads make 47% larger purchases

 

Sponsored by:

Elo Unified Android Architecture

Honeywell CK65 Mobile Computer

Zebra's Keys to RFID Success eBook

 

Talk to Us!

Twitter: @TEConnectPod

Email: TEConnect@bluestarinc.com 

Remote Work - Experiment or Norm?

Remember when “work from home” (WFH) was something we envied? Or just a special privilege from time to time if your boss was cool? For many office workers, it’s been the typical workday for months and may continue to be for months or even years to come. This week, Dean & John explore remote work. What is our current situation? Will remote workers want to come back when it’s considered safe to do so? Are we working more from home than we would in the office? What are the challenges and benefits to WFH? Finally, we discuss the privilege that allows many of us to work from home, but asking so many to do so raises new questions about access, affordability and what being an “essential” worker truly means.

 

#VARValue – What are our tips & tricks for remote work?

 

TEConnecting with us:

Dean - Biomimicry

John - The End of the World w/Josh Clark podcast

 

Sponsored by:

Elo Safe Self-Service Solutions

Zebra COVID Patient ID Solution

 

Talk to us!

Twitter: @TEConnectPod

Email: TEConnect@bluestarinc.com