TechSperience Solutions

Latest Episodes:

Episode 119: Retail Store Modernization Jul 10, 2023

Show notes

Success in retail has become centered on the customer experience. Take the friction out of purchasing with VMware while using an infrastructure that’s already in place. Check out this TechSperience podcast to hear from the retail experts at VMware and Connection on how to connect employees with consumers and transform your locations into faster and more efficient stores.

Host: James Hilliard

Guests: Brian Gallagher, Retail Strategy Director at Connection

Ed Durbin, Senior Director, Global Retail at VMWare

Show Notes:

[0:22] What are the top ideas that retail leaders are discussing surrounding retail store modernization?

[1:45] Are LoB leaders more "foot on the gas" and IT leaders more "foot on the break" when establishing store modernization initiatives?

[4:15] Are those focusing on the backend infrastructure early enough, or only after they've purchased new technologies?

[5:45] Do CIOs want their systems to be able to adopt any new technology?

[8:10] After a successful pilot, how do you execute that to scale?

[11:00] Are there one or two common hurdles that always stop POCs from moving to the rollout stage, and what can be done to overcome them?

[16:30] What are some initial steps people can be taking to modernize stores?

[22:00] What should retailers be focused on now?

You can hear us on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or Podbean.

Episode 118: Optimize IT Support and Manageability in Today’s Remote Environment Feb 21, 2023

Show notes

It's time to rethink your IT strategy and support for remote employees. Learn how to simplify device manageability including provisioning, deployment, and security in this podcast featuring experts from Intel and Connection.

Host: James Hilliard

Guests:

Rhett Livengood, Director of Digital Business Enabling at Intel

Mark Wulfhorst, Director of Technical Services and Solutions, Technology Integration and Distribution Center, Connection

You can hear us on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or Podbean.

Episode 117: Optimize Manufacturing Operations with Asset Tracking Technologies Feb 03, 2023

Show notes

The aftereffects of COVID have brought new challenges requiring new ways of thinking. Most manufacturers and warehouses leverage some level of asset tracking, typically to minimize loss. But location or asset tracking can be used throughout the entire supply chain lifecycle to help identify operational efficiencies. Asset tracking gives you the data needed to make informed decisions. Experts from Zebra and Connection share example use cases in manufacturing and explain how you can gain new insights to lower costs, maximize resources, and stay competitive.

Host: James Hilliard

Guests:

Terry Price, Senior Sales Engineer at Zebra Technologies
Ryan Spurr, Director of Manufacturing Strategy at Connection

You can hear us on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or Podbean.

Episode 116: How Artificial Intelligence is Changing Everything in Retail Dec 21, 2022

Show notes

Retailers can reduce shrinkage, diminish stockout, and enhance experiences for customers and employees with artificial Intelligence (AI). But that is just scratching the surface. AI-enabled intelligent stores can optimize so much more like managing staffing resources, reaching sustainability goals, and even predicting customers’ needs.

This podcast explores how AI solutions – a combination of data management, connectivity, edge computing devices, and software – can create powerful results. Experts from NVIDIA, Lenovo, and Connection cover real-world examples of how retailers are getting their return on investment and what strategies have been successful to reaching strong business outcomes.

Host: James Hilliard

Guests:

Cynthia Countouris, Director of Product Marketing & Enablement for Retail, NVIDIA
Matthew Bertucci, Retail Solutions Manager, Lenovo
Brian Gallagher, Retail Strategy Director, Connection

You can hear us on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or Podbean.

Episode 115: Next-Gen Endpoint Security for the Healthcare Sector Dec 08, 2022

Show notes

The healthcare industry is seeing tremendous change. With the pandemic, staffing shortages, and a backlog of patients needing care, now is the time to reset and question traditional approaches. Add in the pressure of data protection and compliance, supporting remote working environments, and providing telehealth services – finding the right technologies and endpoint security solutions is essential to the future of healthcare.

In this podcast, the experts at IGEL discuss how the next-gen edge OS for cloud workspaces is advancing user productivity, patient care, and security while simplifying endpoint management for healthcare enterprises everywhere.

Host: James Hilliard

Guests:

Chris Feeney, Sr. Presales Engineer, Channel & Team Lead at IGEL
Carl Gersh, VP of Marketing – North America at IGEL

You can hear us on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or Podbean.

Episode 114: Prevent Data Loss with Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) Solutions Nov 21, 2022

Show notes

We often take power for granted. But when there’s a power failure, a planned outage, or a natural disaster, we’re reminded that power is such a necessity. In today’s digital world, data loss and downtime for IT can lead to long-term financial and reputational damage for organizations. The risks are even greater for healthcare and critical infrastructure industries. Listen in on our latest podcast to hear how simple it is to prevent data loss and power failure before it’s too late.

Host: James Hilliard

Guests:

Joe Doherty, Power and Cooling Business Development Specialist at Connection
Hillary Watkins, Product Marketing Specialist for Single Phase UPS at Vertiv

You can hear us on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or Podbean.

Episode 113: The Technology Link - Enhancing User Experience Nov 01, 2022

Show notes

In a recent Forrester report, 77% of full-time employees said PC devices play a critical factor in their ability to do their work. In today’s climate of hybrid and remote environments, how do you determine what technologies users need and what's at risk if user experience isn't prioritized? Listen to this podcast to hear why developing persona-based solutions is critical to user productivity, onboarding, and overall happiness.

Host: James Hilliard

Guests:

• Rhett Livengood, Director of Digital Business Enabling at Intel

• Tim Burns, Vice President of Product Management and Workplace Transformation at Connection

Explore Your Wherever Workspace to learn more about persona-based bundles or visit the Intel showcase to discover their latest technologies.

You can hear us on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, or Podbean.

Episode 112: Hybrid Cloud Strategies for the Modern Data Center Oct 20, 2022

Show notes

Research by IDC show that 90% of enterprises around the world are relying on a mix of on-premises, or dedicated, private clouds, as well as public clouds, and legacy platforms to meet their infrastructure needs. Data center cloud solutions need to change as business needs fluctuate. This episode covers the best practices of a hybrid cloud strategy featuring experts from Intel and Connection.

Host: James Hilliard

Guests:

Vijay Bandari, Cloud Solution Architect at Intel
Steve Fowler, Cloud Solution Architect at Intel
Kiran Agrahara, Cloud Solution Architect at Intel
Kevin Slate, Senior Director of Cloud Services and at Connection

Cybersecurity Awareness Podcast: Spotlight on Higher Education Oct 16, 2022

Show notes

Colleges and universities are prime targets for cyber attackers. From the large volumes of PII to medical and research data, higher education institutions are a gold mine for bad actors. The pandemic also added new attack vectors as institutions turned to remote and hybrid learning environments. CISOs, CTOs, and IT teams within higher education have a very challenging task when it comes to cybersecurity and data protection. With open networks, diverse user types, and limited resources, what can colleges and universities do to enhance protection? Listen to this podcast for tips on how to develop a cybersecurity risk management plan for your institution.

Host: James Hilliard

Guests:

Bobby Sears, Senior Vertical Alliances Manager, Higher Education at Connection
Steve Nardone, Senior Director of Security and Network Solutions at Connection
Tim Allen, Director of Operations and Technology at Connection

For additional cybersecurity resources, visit: https://www.connection.com/cybersecurityawarenessmonth.

Thank you for listening. You can hear us on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and Podbean.

Follow Connection on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, or read our latest insights.

Cybersecurity Awareness Month: Spotlight on K-12 Oct 12, 2022

Show notes

K-12 is a highly targeted sector when it comes to cyberthreats. In a recent report by CoSN, cybersecurity is a top priority among CTOs. Remote and hybrid environments have drastically increased the volume of devices to support the needs of educators and students. And each device is a potential point of entry for bad actors. There’s also a lot of PII available on these networks, making school districts a prime target for data breaches and ransomware. Listen to this podcast to learn what school districts can do to enhance cybersecurity measures.

For additional cybersecurity resources, visit: https://www.connection.com/cybersecurityawarenessmonth.

Host: James Hilliard

Guests: