VARTECH 2025 Recap - AI, People, Connectivity, and a Boulder?

We'll be back later this month with the results of a survey on warehouse and manufacturing automation, making this a great time to revisit this conversation about addressing human work and augmentation alongside technology. * * * Originally aired March 27, 2025 Supply chain jobs in warehouses, manufacturing, and delivery continue to face 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 Ledversis & Honeywell’s Kelley Wood are sharing their thoughts on the topic. What’s changed about labor post-pandemic? What are supply chain businesses saying about automating their workforce? Is AI a game-changer or a new complication in balancing workforce efficiency and productivity?   Around the Nation: Explore Industries & Technologies at BlueStarInc.com   #VARValue - Newcastle & Honeywell put a lot of thought into how technology helps and augments people, even as they also lean into automation and AI. How has that helped you grow, and what lessons can VARs take away from your approach?   On Our Radar Kevin - Future shopping experiences at NRF Kelley - The ARK robo-kitchen Dean - 2025 predictions...from 100 years ago John - Mining the moon   Keep in Touch! Email – [email protected] LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/blue-star Subscribe to the BlueStar Nation Newsletter - https://nation.bluestarinc.com/#subscribe    Sponsored by: Elo's Quick Ship Program

It's time to dig into more fascinating topics, surveys, thought pieces, and lists to get you through your next awkward chat around the coffee maker, waiting for a virtual meeting to start, or to impress your friends and family.   Have an idea for renaming the TEC Bytes episodes? Send your suggestion to [email protected], and you could win $100!   Topics: Helicopter parents No meeting weeks Most common jobs - 90s vs. now Ranking James Bond movies Concert ticketflation The best countries in the world Uber's lost and found Top-selling beer   Around the Nation: BlueStar Academy - Launching Q1 2026   On Our Radar Dean - The most beautiful English words John - Is your phone listening to you? (No, but it's even worse)   Keep in Touch! Email – [email protected] LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/blue-star Subscribe to the BlueStar Nation Newsletter - https://nation.bluestarinc.com/#subscribe    Sponsored by: Elo + Epson KDS

VARTECH 2025 made the most of its location at the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas, offering two packed days of networking, new technologies to explore, insightful education, and fun-filled evenings. Our theme, "Join the Quest," encouraged attendees to come together in partnership and accept the challenge of finding bold new solutions to their customers' problems. From a memorable opening featuring keynote Zack Kass to bold discussions about why now is the time to make AI part of your business, VARTECH had something for everyone. This week, we're reflecting on the show, what we saw and heard, and what you can learn even if you didn't attend.   Follow us on YouTube and bookmark our VARTECH page to see videos and recaps from the show!   Around the Nation: Watch our 2026 Retail Intelligence Briefing with IHL Group   On Our Radar Dean - Outdoor exercise is superior to the gym John - Is Popular Mechanics okay?   Keep in Touch! Email – [email protected] LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/blue-star Subscribe to the BlueStar Nation Newsletter - https://nation.bluestarinc.com/#subscribe    Sponsored by: Elo Pay M100

"I think customers have gone from RFID-curious to RFID-serious," says RedBeam VP of Sales Kevin Keith, reinforcing an ongoing trend of RFID growth and investment. He's joined this week by Solutions Architect Kyle Stanford to explain why the need is at an all-time high for resellers and integrators to build out their RFID business. What tips do they have for qualifying an RFID opportunity over traditional barcoding? How do we prove ROI? What industries and use cases are prime for adoption? What should you expect out of partners like RedBeam?    Check out RedBeam's RFID YouTube series!   Around the Nation: BlueStar Connectivity #VARValue - Learn about the importance of middleware and RedBeam RFID. How are they helping VARs accelerate their existing RFID business or get started?   On Our Radar Kyle - Hitachi's "smart dust" Kevin - AI search Dean - Non-invasive brain-computer interface John - Competitive spreadsheeting   Keep in Touch! Email – [email protected] LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/blue-star Subscribe to the BlueStar Nation Newsletter - https://nation.bluestarinc.com/#subscribe    Sponsored by: Elo Legacy

Next week, we'll be talking to our friends at Redbeam about Accelerating Your RFID Sales, so we thought we'd revisit last year's panel discussion on the trends pushing RFID forward, top use cases, and best practices.  * * * Originally released June 20th, 2024 We recorded another live episode with a panel of RFID experts (Zebra’s Eric Malmed, DecisionPoint’s Steve Weiss, & RFID4U’s Archit Dua) and an eager audience. What trends and technology innovations are moving the RFID market? What recommendations or best practices can help VARs sell RFID to SMB customers? What are some specific use cases for RFID in warehousing and retail? It’s the episode that forces everyone to answer, “Is this the Year of RFID?”   Get your Zebra Refresh Report! https://reach.bluestarinc.com/refreshthebase    #VARValue - Questions from the audience!   TEConnecting with us: Archit - Apple WWDC Eric - Tech in sports Steve - Robotics   Keep in Touch! LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/blue-star Subscribe to the BlueStar Nation Newsletter - https://nation.bluestarinc.com/#subscribe    Sponsored by: Elo Outdoor Solutions

We're busy planning and executing VARTECH 2025 this week, so enjoy a couple of classics from the archives, starting with this one, recorded at last year's show. No live episode this year, but follow BlueStar on LinkedIn to keep up with all of the fun, cool tech, and new ideas we're sharing there. * * * Originally released Sep 26, 2024 Once again, we took our show on the road to VARTECH in Orlando, Florida, to discuss websites, social media, and how they can impact your business. James Korte gives us a breakdown of what "good" websites should contain and what they should do. What are some common pitfalls and mistakes? Is there a right way to do social media? Finally, we wrap up by gently critiquing some sites submitted by our audience.   #VARValue - Check out the sites we reviewed! https://www.digi-trax.com/ https://www.posperpanama.com/ (Now updated and excellent!)   Check out the YouTube video to follow along with our website reviews: https://youtu.be/xDtuNQXAvTA    TEConnecting with us: James - Runway AI video Dean - Bark Air John - Are restaurant kiosks leading to smaller orders?   Keep in Touch! LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/blue-star Subscribe to the BlueStar Nation Newsletter - https://nation.bluestarinc.com/#subscribe   Sponsored by: Elo Quick Ship Program

Distracted driving has been exacerbated with the widespread use of mobile devices, which constantly beckon to be looked at, touched, and interacted with. For enterprises that deploy drivers to deliver products or services, or operate internal vehicles such as forklifts, these distractions can lead to costly lawsuits, liabilities, and an inability to obtain insurance. This week, we're joined by Ted Chen, CEO of LifeSaver Mobile, a company that helps enterprises customize employee access to their devices while driving and on the job. What does "locking down" a mobile device actually mean? How can this benefit resellers with customers using devices they didn't sell? How does connectivity fit into this conversation (Jim Hilton is here with that answer!)? Don't skip this episode...doing so could cause an accident!   Around the Nation: Follow us on LinkedIn & YouTube #VARValue - How is LifeSaver Mobile working with VARs to give them a recurring revenue source, even if their customers are still committed to consumer devices?   On Our Radar Ted - AI search & virtual first downs for football Jim - Satellite connectivity Dean - Quantum communications John - The world's deepest hotel   Keep in Touch! Email – [email protected] LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/blue-star Subscribe to the BlueStar Nation Newsletter - https://nation.bluestarinc.com/#subscribe    Sponsored by: Elo Pay POS Systems

Planned obsolescence and routine replacement cycles are common in the consumer electronics industry. Those concepts also infiltrate enterprise hardware, undermining the notion that business equipment should be rugged, durable, and suitable for years of day-to-day use. If you're eager to swap out mobile computers, POS devices, printers, and other hardware when a new version is released, are you doing your customers (and your business) a disservice? That's the premise of this week's episode featuring Logic Controls' Engineering Director, Paul Peralta & CEO Brian Wheeler. What are end-users saying about buying enterprise vs. consumer? How does longevity factor into designing & selling solutions? How does Logic Controls factor software and evolving OS platforms into its products?   Around the Nation: ISVs on Tap #VARValue - What is Logic Controls' approach to longevity and performance? What do you do differently to ensure that VARs feel secure selling your products?   On Our Radar Paul - Photonic processing Brian - College football Dean - The end of AOL dialup John - Nostalgia for the music of our teen years   Keep in Touch! Email – [email protected] LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/blue-star Subscribe to the BlueStar Nation Newsletter - https://nation.bluestarinc.com/#subscribe    Sponsored by: Logic Controls Durable Solutions

In two weeks, we'll be focusing on fleet & deliver driver safety and technology to minimize distractions. In preparation, we thought it would be helpful to revisit the importance of reliable, enterprise-ready connectivity to enable such solutions. Enjoy! * * * Originally published March 13, 2025 Mobile computing, IoT, AI, RFID, robotics, mPOS…the future of enterprise technology is exciting, to be sure. Still, it’s only as good as the networks connecting these devices and transmitting all that data for analysis and action. Networking and connectivity solutions may not currently be part of your portfolio, but if you desire to be THE trusted provider for your customers, they should be. Today, we’re talking to iONLINE’s Dave Farquharson & industry vet (now a BlueStar colleague) Jim Hilton to help you understand the connectivity landscape, the importance of multi-carrier interoperability, how to approach selling network solutions, and how to find and win opportunities.   Check out our new Connectivity Services site!   #VARValue - What is iONLINE looking for in the channel, and how do they help resellers find opportunities, win business, and overcome networking hurdles?   Around the Nation: The 2U Tour is coming to a city near you!   On Our Radar Dave - Waymo and AI Jim - Robotics Dean - AI couples therapy? John - The "city-killer" asteroid (that's no longer a concern?)   Keep in Touch! Email – [email protected] LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/blue-star Subscribe to the BlueStar Nation Newsletter - https://nation.bluestarinc.com/#subscribe    Sponsored by: Elo M51 Rugged Mobile Computer

A couple of years ago, Intel's Kristen Call joined the pod to discuss what retail modernization meant and how VARs should align their solutions for the future. Now, as the AI conversation grows louder, what has changed, and what did we get right back then? Returning guests Rob Risany & Luke Wilwerding talk expectations, skepticism, selling value, and the importance of channel partnerships to help you sell the next generation of retail tech.   Around the Nation: Win business and earn more with BlueStar Promotions! #VARValue - What’s the modernization pitch to SMB retail? Are there any “start small” opportunities that VARs should be pursuing now that could lead to bigger innovation in the future?   On Our Radar Luke - Brain-computer interfaces Rob - Home-brewed beer app Dean - Electronic skin John - Goodbye BSOD   Keep in Touch! Email – [email protected] LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/blue-star Subscribe to the BlueStar Nation Newsletter - https://nation.bluestarinc.com/#subscribe    Sponsored by: Elo M51 Rugged Mobile Computer