VARTECH 2026 Where Builders Gather

It's hard to believe that only a week ago we were kicking off VARTECH's general sessions at Mohegan Sun. More than 800 people from over 60 countries had come together to discover new technology, learn from one another, and meet the partners who could help them build what's next.

Hosted by BlueStar, VARTECH is a must-attend gathering for the channel, bringing resellers, vendors, software providers and industry experts together in one place. For partners making time away from customers and busy businesses, the appeal is clear: access to people, ideas and opportunities that can be difficult to bring together any other way.

This year's theme, Where Builders Gather, captured that purpose. The solutions customers need increasingly bring hardware, software, and services together. VARTECH helps partners find the knowledge and relationships to make those solutions possible.

A Keynote That Stayed With Us

Keynote speaker Ben Nemtin, bestselling author and co-creator of The Buried Life, reminded us that the things we want to build aren't always business plans. Sometimes they're the ambitions we've put off or the goals we haven't quite found the courage to pursue.

His story began with four friends and a list of 100 things they wanted to do before they died. As they worked through their list, they helped other people achieve their dreams, too.

Ben had us laughing one minute and wiping away tears the next. His message stayed with us: make room for what matters, ask for help and recognise what you can make possible for someone else. It was a powerful way to start an event built around the people we meet and what we can accomplish together.

Knowledge You Can Put to Work

VARTECH's education sessions gave partners time to explore the changes shaping the channel and consider what they mean for their own businesses. AI was featured across business strategy, marketing and software, alongside sessions on payments, automation, RFID, healthcare, digital signage and connected solutions.

The value was in taking those subjects further. How does a technology solve a real customer problem? Where can a reseller add services or generate recurring revenue? What expertise or partnerships will they need to take the next step?

One BlueStar Academy session captured that opportunity in its title: Navigating the Shift from VAR to VSP — Value-Added Service Provider. It reflected a wider conversation about how partners can play a greater role in their customers' ongoing operations and growth.

Where Ideas Meet Solutions

On the CodeZone floor, attendees could move from learning about a technology to seeing it up close and speaking with the people behind it. Product demonstrations and conversations at the booths gave partners the chance to ask questions specific to their customers and explore how different pieces could work together.

For a reseller, that access matters. A customer challenge that has been sitting on your desk can become a conversation with someone who understands it. A product demonstration can reveal a capability you hadn't considered. Meeting face-to-face also gives a future partnership a much stronger starting point.

A big thank-you to our EMEA sponsors: Brady, BarTender, MicroTouch, Unitech, Elo, Datalogic, TSC, Star, Citizen and Zebra. Their support helped us bring so many EMEA customers to VARTECH, giving them the chance to experience the event, meet new partners and explore opportunities for their businesses.

TEConnect Live and Connections That Keep Growing

TEConnect Live put software providers in front of partners looking to build more complete customer solutions. It offered a chance to discover capabilities, recognise a potential fit and start a conversation with the company behind them.

EMEA sponsor openFleet by Loqus Group was among the presenters, introducing its platform for last-mile delivery, route optimisation and mobile workforce management. For partners serving delivery, logistics and field service customers, it was a practical example of where a software partnership could open new opportunities.

We also previewed the new TEConnect online community, designed to help VARs, ISVs and other channel partners discover one another, share capabilities and build relationships throughout the year. It extends one of the most valuable parts of VARTECH: finding the people who can help you take an idea further.

We heard what that can look like in practice from Steve Dono of Nubeo. During the EMEA session, he shared how a connection with iONline at last year's VARTECH has helped their business grow. It was a reminder that an introduction made at the event can have an impact long after everyone returns home.

The Experience Is Part of the Appeal

And yes, the setting is part of what makes people want to come. VARTECH brings the channel to memorable destinations and creates space to enjoy them together. This year, Mohegan Sun and Mystic Seaport gave us plenty to talk about beyond technology.

At The Pour Party, axe throwing, a wood carver, fire pits and plenty of food and drinks gave everyone a chance to relax after a busy day. At Mystic Seaport, guests could take a boat ride, explore below deck in an old ship, enjoy lobster or a clam bake and dance to The Leftovers.

Those shared experiences matter. The person you meet over dinner might become the partner you call about your next project. A conversation that starts at a booth has time to continue, and new introductions start to feel like real relationships. It's part of what makes VARTECH worth the trip.

Why We Gather and What Comes Next

VARTECH gives partners the chance to step outside their daily routines, see where the channel is heading, and spend time with people who can help them move forward. The education, access to technology, and shared experiences all contribute to that.

Now the opportunity is in the follow-up: putting an idea into practice, reconnecting with someone you met, and exploring where a new partnership could lead. That's the lasting value of Where Builders Gather, and the reason to be in the room when the channel comes together again.