The Business Solutions Network

I just returned to the office after a few days in NYC for the NRF Big Show, the retail industry's largest show of the year. There were two aspects of this show that I was particularly interested in. First, it's the place where the latest technology is revealed, and I was very interested to see how manufacturers were going to respond to consumer shopping habits with new products. Second, this show provides exhibitors a...  Continue Reading..

Today I spoke with a managed services provider who was looking a few years ago to expand his line card. After examining all the opportunities out there, he settled on adding IP video surveillance solutions. Today, some three years later, IP video makes up 25% of the MSP's revenue and he's experiencing a 50% increase in profits (35% coming from IP video).  Continue Reading..

I remember sitting on a shuttle about four years ago during a distributor partner conference, talking about the industry with the person sitting next to me. “Intermec will be sold within a year,” he told me, hinting at trouble at the Everett, WA-based company. Regardless of whether or not Intermec was truly in any trouble back then, a sale within the year didn’t happen. But, the conversation did mark the first of many times...  Continue Reading..

In PCI: Who Really Cares?, I shared some survey data that pointed to a lack of awareness/caring/interest in the topic of PCI from certain solutions providers. Quotes from ISVs (software developers) led me to believe that they felt alone in the struggle of PCI standards compliance. Well, that article prompted an email from an ISV. Wishing to remain anonymous, the ISV told me about software competitors who were not on the list of...  Continue Reading..

NRF's Big Show, the retail industries aptly named expo, is just around the corner. In anticipation of the event, I've been receiving briefings from various manufacturers and have been given hints at new products that will be announced at the show next month.  Continue Reading..

It's common in the retail IT VAR world to meet resellers who are second or third generation veterans. VARs who started attending industry events as children. VARs who have experienced a lot of change over the years.  Continue Reading..

As the holidays draw near, I thought I'd keep things a little light today and put together a "Best of" article. Below, you'll find commentary on some of our 2012 blog posts that come to the top of my mind, for various reasons (positive and negative).  Continue Reading..

VAR and integrator readers of Business Solutions magazine who are outside the video surveillance space often ask me how easy or difficult it is to install the latest IP video cameras. To answer the question, I've been playing around with some Axis IP cameras.  Continue Reading..

Since I’ve been beating the “IP video surveillance should be on your line card” drum for the last year, I’m always happy to come across proof that we’re on the right track. A couple of weeks ago, IMS Research, the leading analyst firm when it comes to the security industry, issued a press release regarding its new report “Security Systems Integration – World – 2012,” which...  Continue Reading..

Last week I fielded a call from a reader, Steve Norell, of US Merchant Services, who was responding to my past articles regarding the "dirty" nature of the payment processing industry. Up to that point, the best ideas I had heard regarding ways to clean things up came from the ETA and RSPA. Both point to ongoing education and certification of members.  Continue Reading..