BlueStar Nation

LG's Mike Stachura is bringing his incredible energy and enthusiasm for digital signage back to the pod (and in-studio!) with Disty Sales Director Matt Waidley. They are discussing current trends in signage, their favorite use cases, how AI is changing deployments and potential applications, and what's new with LG. Slip into some comfy shoes and enjoy!

Around the Nation: 2U Tour NYC...on a boat!

#VARValue - Explain the difference...

LG's Mike Stachura brings his incredible energy back to the pod next week, so we thought we'd revisit his last appearance, which covered a wide range of topics and was a lot of fun.

Originally released Aug 24th, 2023

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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 an...

We're sharing another batch of interesting reads, trends, lists, and studies to give you something to discuss while waiting for your next meeting to start, over lunch with a client, or with friends and family.

Topics:

• An all-AI agent company?
• 2024 restaurant trends
• The world's wealthiest and happiest cities
• Why Americans are working less
• What happens to your digital life when you die?

Around the Nation: Networking Ex...

This week, we're seeking insights, advice, and experiences from one of our customers in the channel. Elie Katz, Founder & CEO of National Retail Solutions, tells us about building a POS business aimed at helping independent merchants compete against large chains and still have access to the latest and greatest technology. How can SMB VARs & ISVs stand out in a crowd? What does the channel bring to VARs? Are there recurring ...

"It's put up or shut up time for AI!" proclaims John on this week's episode. He and Dean are ready to see real, tangible applications with AI. Thankfully, Elo's Luke Wilwerding brings the goods by helping us explore AI's actual potential and the tools and infrastructure VARs need to bring those solutions to their customers. How is AI already impacting your device sales? What are end-users saying they want? Will AI eliminate the tou...

Our latest BlueStar Nation survey tackles mobile device usage, challenges, and expectations for clinical healthcare workers. To help us break down the data, we turned to an expert, Zebra's Healthcare CNIO Industry Principal Kassaundra McKnight-Young, to not only explain the benefits of enterprise mobility in the industry but also share her perspective as an active clinician. Is there still an opportunity to move healthcare away fro...

As more devices, solutions, and emerging tech like AI & machine vision demand rapid, near-instantaneous processing and response, relying solely on the cloud and centralized servers may not be enough. Scale Computing is helping VARs address the need for decentralization, and their CEO, Jeff Ready, joins the pod this week to provide context and a path forward. How does a Robert Frost poem explain contemporary attitudes toward edg...

The modern kitchen serves many masters: food safety standards, "I want it now and I want it here" consumers, and delivery companies enabling those consumers. How are those demands influencing restaurant technology in the kitchen and front-of-the-house? Star Micronics' Christophe Naasz joins to explain. How do label printers and modern scanning solutions drive efficiency? What are the advantages of cloud POS vs. on-prem? What did Ch...

The new Trump administration has been busy rolling back initiatives from previous administrations and rapidly overhauling government agencies. If you sell into the public sector, what do these rapid changes mean? We turn, as always, to our government guru, EVerged's Jeff Smith, to provide guidance. What is happening with EV charging rollouts and opportunities? How is the DOGE dismantling of agencies affecting tech investments? What...

A run of new episodes starts next week with Jeff Smith returning to discuss government tech sales under the new Trump administration and the state of EV charging opportunities. To prepare, let's revisit Jeff's last appearance!

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*Originally released May 9, 2024*

The electric & hybrid vehicle market continues to grow, spurred by government investment and consumer in...

"This is your roadmap," says Dean about our latest BlueStar Nation end-user survey results. We surveyed 125 education teachers, administrators, and IT leaders about their experiences using and deploying digital displays in the classroom. What frustrates them? Why aren't they using more interactive displays? Who is responsible for maintenance and support? What do they want out of their next upgrade? Your final grade depends on this ...

We'll be back next week, breaking down a survey from Educators, but until then, let's revisit this conversation exploring how touchscreen displays complement AI solutions.

*Originally released August 8th, 2024*

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We’re talking more about AI with Elo’s Kristin Roubie, this time regarding digital displays and industries deploying the technologies together. How are Kristin & Elo approaching AI at ...

Technology is rapidly advancing, and new inventions and innovations make our lives easier, but do you ever miss something simpler? That's the subject of this week's episode. Is it nostalgia, or do we get stubborn as we age? Sarah Schlueter, an old soul herself, joins us (with props!). When did we feel like we were on the cutting edge of tech adoption? What tech are we nostalgic for, and what do we wish we could go back to?

Around...

As AI continues to be a hot topic, we're looking to spotlight practical, tangible use cases on the pod this year, both within your business and solutions for your customers. Look for new episodes soon that address this topic, but in the meantime, if you missed it, check out this conversation we had with Honeywell's Michael Groskopf.

*Originally released Oct. 10, 2024*

It's been nearly two years since LLMs like ChatGPT exploded ...

Sure, we're no longer the TEConnect Podcast, but TEC Bytes--our occasional round-up of interesting articles, lists, rankings, research, tech topics, and more--lives on! Here's what we're discussing:

• The Most Innovative Countries in 2024
• Best inventions of 2024
• Top low-stress/high-paying jobs
• COVID pandemic 5 years later
• Most technologically advanced stadiums
• Best sports moments

On Our Radar

Dean - Workdays are ending e...

Finding new opportunities in retail isn't easy. There is a lot of market saturation, a lot of competition, and a lot of technology options. But, it’s also a lucrative industry when you win business, so we want to give you an edge by equipping you with end-user data—actual insights from retailers about their tech in use, wishlist items, and support preferences. Then, we analyze those insights, compile the most relevant data, and giv...

Facial recognition has become common for personal mobile devices, relying on our unique biological features for security and access control. However, the technology is still somewhat controversial in the broader business world. Terry Schulenburg with CyberLink, makers of FaceMe, will help us understand the technology, how the controversy is mainly manufactured by film/TV, and the opportunity for solution providers. What industries ...

Supply chain jobs in warehouses, manufacturing, and delivery are still facing a challenging labor market. At the same time, costs remain high, and consumer demands create more pressure to make, distribute, and deliver products quickly. That’s where automation technology has come in to help, but it’s not a total replacement for people, which makes it essential to understand the human element as well. Today, Newcastle’s Kevin Ledvers...

Like many industries, automation & AI are finding a place in restaurants, adding to accelerated trends during the pandemic. This week's guest, Sean McCaughan of Truffle Systems, finds it easier than ever to make the case for innovation, but what solutions actually make a difference? How does "reading bus pans" make the case for AI and analytics to reduce costs and minimize food waste? How is Truffle solving the "last three feet...