The Buzz: TD SYNNEX buys BlueStar, HPE launches ProLiant Gen13, and Cisco puts AI agents in Webex

Welcome to The Buzz from ChannelBuzz.ca, I’m Robert Dutt, today is Thursday, October 8, 2026, and here’s what’s happening in the channel today.

TD SYNNEX has agreed to acquire BlueStar, a specialty distributor with a significant presence in Canada.

BlueStar specializes in some corners of the channel that sit outside traditional broadline IT distribution: automatic identification and data capture, mobility, RFID, point-of-sale, digital signage, networking, robotics and security.

And this one matters directly in Canada. BlueStar has Canadian operations in Montreal, the Toronto area and Vancouver, serving VARs in markets including retail, hospitality, warehousing, transportation, logistics and healthcare.

For TD SYNNEX, the acquisition adds specialized expertise in technologies that increasingly connect traditional IT with physical operations. That’s particularly interesting as areas like warehouse automation, edge computing and robotics begin overlapping more heavily with the infrastructure and AI practices already familiar to solution providers.

In fact, TD SYNNEX separately announced Wednesday that it’s taking KUKA autonomous mobile robots to partners in several European markets. Put the two announcements together and there’s a pretty clear direction of travel toward operational technology and physical AI.

Financial terms for the BlueStar acquisition weren’t disclosed. It’s a definitive agreement rather than a completed deal, and the companies will continue operating independently while it goes through regulatory approval.

HPE has introduced the first four systems in its next generation of ProLiant servers.

ProLiant Gen13 starts with sixth-generation AMD EPYC processors and covers a pretty wide range of infrastructure.

At one end is the DL525, a 1U single-socket server with as many as 256 CPU cores. At the other is the DL585a, which supports two EPYC processors and as many as eight double-wide PCIe GPUs for AI inference, model fine-tuning and other accelerated workloads.

HPE is also introducing two dense Open Compute Project-based systems aimed at AI and high-performance computing.

But the generational change isn’t only about feeding more AI into the data centre.

HPE is adding new security features through iLO 8, including automatic self-encrypting drives, two-person authorization for high-impact administrative actions and expanded post-quantum cryptography readiness. Compute Ops Management also gets new power-management and low-touch onboarding capabilities.

That’s useful territory for infrastructure partners because customers don’t necessarily need a dedicated AI server project to enter the Gen13 refresh cycle. Virtualization, analytics, databases and conventional infrastructure modernization are still part of the pitch, with AI capacity available as requirements evolve.

Availability is staggered. The DL525 is due later this year, the DL585a in early 2027, and the two dense systems later in 2027. HPE is also making Gen13 available through its 90/9 Advantage financing program.

And Cisco is turning Webex into a workplace not only for people, but for AI agents.

At WebexOne Wednesday, Cisco announced that Claude Managed Agents are coming to Webex, along with collaborative AI agents that can participate directly in spaces, meetings and calls.

The idea is that instead of someone privately asking an AI tool for help and then bringing the answer back to the team, the agent becomes part of the shared workspace. A user might ask an analytics agent for data inside a Webex space, then hand the result to another agent to update a presentation.

Cisco says those agents will also be able to carry out multi-step work across Webex and third-party applications, with identity, security and governance controls around what they’re allowed to access and do.

There’s also a substantial physical-workplace piece.

RoomOS 27 will add native Google Meet support to Cisco collaboration hardware alongside Webex, Microsoft Teams and Zoom, while Cisco Cloud Control increasingly brings collaboration devices, networking and workplace intelligence into one management layer.

And in customer experience, Cisco is introducing Dialog, designed to let AI agents maintain customer context and keep working across systems even after an individual conversation ends.

For partners, the bigger story may be that Cisco isn’t treating collaboration, networking, room systems and AI as separate practices. It’s increasingly trying to make the workplace itself one managed technology environment.

In Brief – CPA Canada says organizational AI use among respondents has increased from five percent in 2023 to 43 percent this year, while fewer than half report having a formal AI policy. EfficientIP says malware has overtaken phishing as the largest category in its DNS threat data, with daily malware activity quadrupling between January and its April peak. TD SYNNEX has signed a European distribution agreement with KUKA for autonomous mobile robots, backed by partner training and enablement. BlueVoyant has named former Druva chief revenue officer John Hultman as its new CRO. Full details and links in the show notes or the blog post.

And if you haven’t heard it yet, Wednesday’s In The Channel introduces Kurt Mills, KnowBe4’s new channel chief, and looks at his plans for distribution, partner programs and the company’s MSP business.

We’ll have more new conversations coming soon on In The Channel.

That’s how we’re seeing the headlines today. I’m Robert Dutt for ChannelBuzz.ca, thanks for listening. Have a great day.