TechSperience Solutions

Episode 103: How Public Sector Can Use Stimulus Funds

Learn more about the stimulus packages that have passed since COVID-19 and how it impacts information technology in the public sector space.

Guest 1 Title and Bio:  Jeff Chabot, Public Sector Segment Director - Jeff is the Segment Strategy Director of the Schneider Electric Federal Sales Team. His team is responsible to lead the sale, customer support, design and implementation of critical power, cooling and management solutions in US Government information technology environments within and outside the continental United States. In his 22 years at Schneider Electric, Jeff has held various sales and sales leadership roles in commercial sales, state and local government sales and federal government sales. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in History/Political Science from Rhode Island College.

Host: James Hilliard 

Show Notes

[0:30] Introduction of guest

[0:45] What are the choices and funding that are currently available for the public sector?

[2:00] What should be at top of mind for State and Local to consider with the American Rescue Plan?

[4:05] Is there a time period that teams need to spend these funds?

[4:33] Within State and Local, what are some of the top areas where they can spend their funds?

[5:00] Where are IT professionals spending these funds?

[6:10] Where are K-12 focusing their purchases?

[8:05] Are there similar types of spending in Higher Education?

[8:57] What is the application process that IT professionals need to be aware of to access these funds?

[10:19] How smooth has the process and experience been for folks so far?

[11:13] Anything else we should know about the American Rescue Plan?

[12:25] Have funds started to be released for the new Infrastructure Plan?

[13:40] How is broadband defined now and how is it a part of the Infrastructure Plan?

[15:42] Will more rural areas see more funding for broadband investments?

[16:38] What are all the aspects of broadband that are covered in the Infrastructure Plan?

[19:43] Could the Infrastructure Plan help with supply chain issues, inflation, and efficiency?

[20:51] When can people begin to apply and access the funds from this new Infrastructure Plan?

[21:22] What are some tips that you have that would make the most sense for people to spend these funds? 

 

Episode 102: Tour De Force of Tech Collaboration

Finding the “best in class” IT resources to meet all for your wish-list items can be a challenge, especially when trying to future-proof your infrastructure and remote workforce all while maintaining security protocols and budgets during a world pandemic. Tech expectations continue to increase and the need for collaborative IT solutions has become paramount. 

What have other companies done to roadmap their next 5 years of success?  How have they overcome some of these challenges and mitigate the disasters of a wrong decision?  Find out on this episode of TechSperience as we explore a “tour de force” of tech collaboration. 

Guest 1: Laura Belincky – Sr. Business Development Manager, BSG

Guest 2: Brian McGuffin – National Business Development Manager, BSG

Guest 3: John Maslanik – Business Development Manager, BSG

Guest 4: Brian Chandler – Director, Business Development Manager’s Team, BSG

Guest 5: Derek Olson-Sr. Manager, Business Development Manager’s Team BSG

Host: James Hilliard

Show Notes:

[0:38] Introduction of guests

[1:30] How do you start the process of learning about your customers and what their pain points are?

[2:55] What's your favorite place to go to learn about a new customer?

[4:30] What's a unique place where someone has been able to uncover new information about a customer?

[5:31] Currently, what are the biggest pain points you are hearing from customers where solutions providers can help?

[8:16] Besides logistical pain points, what are some personal pain points we are hearing from customers?

[10:48] How do you start imagining the resources that you can provide a customer when they ask for products and/or services?

[13:20] How does bringing in more team members to sit in on meetings allow for more potential resources to the client?

[15:25] Are customers surprised that Connection can offer more services than they initially thought?

[19:05] How often do you find a customer is willing to talk to another customer about their experiences?

[24:40] Could you design a new data center from the ground up?

[26:33] What are your goals when engaging customers?

Episode 101: RTO and the Future of the Office

In 2022, many companies are navigating how to return to the office safely and smartly. In this episode, we address this challenge and explore some possible technology solutions surrounding RTO.

Guest 1 Title and Bio: Tony Dancona, Digital Workspace Evangelist and part of Connection Lab. With more than 25 years of experience in virtualization and end-user computing, Tony is considered a thought leader in the industry. He currently serves on different Technical Advisory Board including Dell Technologies, VMware and CRN Channel Company IOT.

Host: James Hilliard

Show Notes:

[0:20] Introduction of guest

[0:45] What did work look like in 2008?

[2:36] What does work look like currently?

[3:45] How are customers defining in-office collaboration?

[4:40] Are we lacking anything from working remotely?

[6:15] How do we make today's office safe?

[8:01] What technologies are you seeing most organizations trying to implement today to keep their offices safe?

[10:13] What benefits are there to utilizing some of this technology?

[11:25] Can some of this technology allow for exceptions?

[13:13] What technologies are companies looking at inside work environments?

[16:23] What verticals can this technology impact?

[17:31] How do we make offices smarter than they were a couple of years ago?

[20:51] What have been the advancements in conference technology?

[23:03] Give us a high-level primer on the Connect Aware app.

[27:50] To utilize the features of this app, what technologies are required?

[29:03] What changes do you expect to see in physical offices in the coming year?

 

Episode 100: Windows 11 Is Here

Windows 11 Pro has arrived. Why should you make the switch? Listen in for more information on what you can expect from the upgrade – features, timelines, security, and more.

Host: James Hilliard

Guest 1: Burt Kersey, Lenovo Channel Account Executive

Guest 2: Ashley Lofaro, Microsoft OEM Senior Partner Development Specialist

Show Notes:

[00:19] Introduction of guests

[00:43] What are some of the promises of Windows 11?

[02:49] What can we expect from Lenovo devices as we start seeing Windows 11 roll out?

[06:00] What can we expect from the graphics interface of Windows 11?

[06:49] Can we set up custom desktops based on what you're using with Windows 11?

[08:30] What's the timeline for Windows 11 adoption and what are the conversations you hope to be happening during the transition?

[10:30] Are machines bought within the last year likely to accept Windows 11?

[13:55] What do teams that recently made a move to Windows 10 need to consider?

[14:53] What do teams that recently made a move to Windows 7 need to consider?

[15:46] What if a team buys Windows 11 machines, but needs to be on Windows 10 for a period of time?

[16:22] What are some things we can expect from hardware manufacturers like Lenovo to integrate with the security in Windows 11?

[19:30] What should IT teams be considering while looking at their networks before rolling out a more robust OS?

[21:51]What type of conversations do you anticipate you'll be having with teams looking into Windows 11?

[24:08] Is there something that Lenovo is looking at from a supply chain perspective to get customers the gear they need to support Windows 11?

 

Episode 99: Addressing QSR Workforce Restraints With Elo In-Store Products

Learn how Connection's partnership with Elo can help to address the new changes within the QSR industry, including staffing shortages, changes in customer demand and behavior, and supply chain issues.

 

Host: James Hilliard

Guest 1: Brian Gallagher, Retail Strategy Director, Connection

Brian is a Retail veteran who has spent the past 5 years supporting the adoption of new technologies in retail to deliver amazing experiences to customers and employees.

Guest 2: Luke Wilwerding, Sr. Director of NA Sales, Elo

With over 20 years of interactive technology experience, Luke is at the forefront of innovation as retail customers create new shopping journeys that push engagement, creativity, information, and commerce.  Elo solutions can be found across all verticals, with many of its' over 25 million installations deployed in many of the most popular retail chains and luxury brand stores across the globe. Working with some of the biggest retailers around the world, Luke is in a unique position to understand what’s coming next in retail.

Show Notes:

[0:38] Introduction of guests

[1:28] What industry trends were QSRs seeing in early 2020?

[4:40] In mid-2020, how did the retail industry adapt to Covid-19?

[8:45] From a supply chain standpoint, what technology inventory began to run low as a result of Covid-19?

[10:45] Have the changes been beneficial from a customer standpoint?

[16:38] How can kiosks help with new and evolving employee responsibilities?

[18:30] How can Elo products support the new POS capabilities needed?

[21:01] What's it like to manage the complexities that new technology products bring?

[23:56] What impact would adopting new POS systems have on retailers' networks?

[25:45] What products are available to improve QSR employee productivity?

[29:00] How has the ease of use of employee technology products improved?

[34:52] What's the experience look like when customers start the conversation with Elo?

[36:53] What's an innovation that you expect in the coming months to a year in the QSR space?

 

Episode 98: How TIDC is Navigating the Challenges of the Covid Era

Host: James Hilliard

Guest: Steven L. Crowther – VP of the TIDC

Guest: John Milburn – Sr. Director TIDC Operations

In the unprecedented COVID era, TIDC is still making things happen and doing more with less. Here's how they are mitigating around the current constraints on labor, supply chain constants, and the COVID-19 delta variant.

Show Notes

[0:40] Introduction of guests

[1:00] What are the biggest changes in customer demand?

[2:58] The Amazon effect and customers wanting goods sooner

[4:55] What were some of the things Connection did to adjust to changing customer demands?

[7:22] Where do we stand now with the work disruption that Covid brought on 18 months ago?

[9:33] How can customers rely on Connection to get gear into end-user hands?

[10:32] What has been the change in the labor force and the equipment they need?

[11:35] What impact did the labor shortage have on customers' needs for technology?

[13:07] What are some of the top IT requests due to the labor shortage?

[15:28] How can customers get insight through TIDC about current technology offerings?

[16:44] Is the labor shortage crisis easing up?

[18:40] What should organizations be planning for in early 2022 to make sure they get the right gear as more people rejoin the workforce?

[19:38] Where do we currently sit with supply chain constraints?

[24:30] Are we having to introduce customers to new products due to supply chain constraints on their preferred products?

[25:37] When will the supply shortage end?

[26:00] What should we be thinking about to stay ahead of supply chain issues?

[27:30] Are there certain technology products that you think might be limited in the coming months?

 

 

 

Episode 97: The Hybrid Workforce Is Here To Stay

As we celebrate Cyber Security Awareness month, Connection in partnership with Intel, bring you a timely podcast to help your organization stay safe from cyber threats and help educate hybrid workers on best practices.  Intel and the Connection Security practice collaborate and talk candidly with James to unveil some insights you many never have considered. Remember - "Do Your Part Be Cyber Smart"

#BeCyberSmart

 

Host: James Hilliard

Guest: Steve Nardone - Senior Director of Security Solutions

Guest: Yasser Rasheed - Global Director of Enterprise Clients at Intel 

Show Notes

[0:55] Introduction of guests

[1:30] Is the hybrid workforce here to stay?

[3:33] Will there be more cybersecurity attacks as a result of the new hybrid workforce?

[6:10] Will the equipment of remote workers be able to protect them from cyberattacks?

[7:20] The 3 areas we'll be spending the remainder of time: "zero trust", hardware matters, and continuing to be students

[8:08] What does "zero trust" mean in the IT security community today?

[10:00] Who should own the "zero trust" mentality at an organization?

[12:15] How do you prevent user cybersecurity fatigue? 

[14:31] What's an example of a great approach an organization is taking to get their end-users (hybrid workers) engaged with security?

[15:40] The importance that hardware still has in cybersecurity efforts

[18:23] Are there tools built into the hardware that can be added protection?

[20:25] What are newer security capabilities in machines, and how do they compare with what was running three years ago?

[23:10] What does it mean to become a "student of risk"?

[26:15] What's the difference between being a "student of risk" and a "student of threat"?

[27:44] What should an end-user do to raise a security alarm?

[29:30] Do we need to change how often we prepare for security attacks?

[31:50] What's something we can take away with to do something more securely than yesterday?

Episode 96: Embracing cloud IT for business resilience and agility in Manufacturing

In order to survive, manufacturers must be agile in surviving disruption. Industry 4.0 technologies are reinventing how manufacturers do business and, to stay competitive, companies will need to embrace these technologies to capitalize on the efficiencies, cost savings, and improved uptimes that might be gained.

 

Host: James Hilliard

Guest 1: Ryan Spurr, Director of Manufacturing Strategy & Business Development at Connection

Guest 2: Dave Martin, Systems Engineering Manager at Meraki

Guest 3: Jordan Noonan, Solutions Marketing Manager at Meraki

 

Show Notes

[0:55] Introduction of Guests.

[2:05] Where were Manufacturing organizations before Covid?

[3:52] Do companies now have firmer transformation strategies?

[5:15] What are manufacturing table stakes you need to be competitive in Industry 4.0?

[7:28] The plant power problem and how has it changed?

[8:01] Niche use cases that Covid brought to the front for Manufacturers.

[10:01] How do you get Wi-Fi to every part of the factory?

[12:47] Analytics and Data

[14:27] Obstacles towards investment in next generation networking

[15:40] What can this new tech do for your organization?

 [17:00] Who should you engage to start transformation?

[19:28] How do you merge the new network with legacy machines?

[20:53] What do you do to protect your tech when you bring in modern networks to legacy devices?

[24:48] How long does it take to discover a breach?

[26:00] Is there concern about upgrades and automations removing people?

[29:00] The talent shortage.

[30:50] What does the future hold?

Episode 95: Always Connected, Always Collaborating with Microsoft and Lenovo

Host: James Hilliard

Guest 1: Robert Gates, Cloud Technical Architect at Microsoft 

Guest 2: Trinh Tran, Partner Technology Strategist at Microsoft 

Guest 3: Burton Kersey, Senior Channel Account Manager at Lenovo

Guest 4: Matt Skoog, Partner Development Specialist – Mobility Activations 

 

Description: James Hilliard your host welcomes Robert Gates, Trinh Tran, Burton Kersey, and Matt Skoog to talk about collaborating in the modern office. They discuss the current work from home life, and the future of hybrid work as well as going back in office. One of the current major struggles is maintaining collaboration while at home, in the office, or on the go. Hear ways to solve for this growing issue and improve the way we collaborate and work.

Show Notes:
[4:10] Robert talks about collaborating in Teams.

[5:02] Trinh discusses the expectations we have for our collaboration tools.

[7:42] Matt reflects on going remote and how things have changed over the years.

[9:54] Hybrid workplaces and what long term remote means for you and everyone else.  

[12:37] Are we ready for a modular workplace?

[13:40] The need for a modern device, and how it changes how you work.

[15:12] Keeping employees happy and how a device impacts that and retains talent.

[18:12] How have collaboration tools changed to help us work better.

[19:52] Watercooler chatter can happen remotely.

[25:37] New ways of hybrid working.

[28:00] Pulling devices out of the closet for 2020, and why that doesn't work long term.

[28:42] Questions companies should ask themselves about their devices.

[32:02] What employees need is changing.

[34:01] What new features do we need to continue improving the hybrid environment?

 

Connection Inside Access: Shifting Gears, Impacting Retail Through Operational Excellence

Host: James Hilliard

Guest 1: Brian Gallagher, Retail Strategy Business Dev Director at Connection

Guest 2: Tim Vanevenhoven, Director of Business Development and Strategic Partnerships at Aruba

Guest 3: Tim Kane, Retail Solutions Industry Consultant, North America Retail at Zebra Technologies

 

Description: James Hilliard your host welcomes Tim Vanevenhoven from Aruba, Tim Kane from Zebra, and Brian Gallagher, from Connection to talk about the trends and innovations to get you moving forward in this ever-changing environment. In today’s episode, they are continuing the conversation around retail and dive deep into how to enable a smarter physical store and empower your workforce with solutions from Aruba and Zebra.

 

Reach out to the Connection Team.

Email us at podcast@connection.com 

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Key takeaways:

[2:03] Brian talks about the current state of retail.

[3:42] Retailers acknowledge that they will never go back to pre-COVID.

[4:42] Tim from Aruba talks about the trends among customers in the retail environment.

[5:25] Having a clear path forward is the only way for retailers to win.

[6.11] Retail needs a holistic approach.

[7:05] It is not enough with connecting and securing data, it is about analyzing and acting on that data for better business outcomes.

[7:57] Examples of what retailers are doing and it’s having an impact on their business.

[9:56] Analytics are being used to predict if there could be an issue with the network.

[11:22] Are the employees engaged and enthusiastic about the changes brought by new technologies?

[15:21] Telephones have become the one device that is empowering associates.

[17:05] The “hyper-aware store” and what is providing to retailers.

[18:50] What are the specific technologies Aruba and Zebra are building and taking to the market together?

[21:09] Are retailers looking at their business from a whole solution standpoint?

[22:17] Retailers are looking for partners more than they ever had in the past.

[23:05] The digital transformation is not an event, it is a journey.