ACSU Management Board Interview with Mr. Roberto Custodio


Roberto Custodio, IT Application Manager of Asia Pacific, ZF (China) Investment Co., Ltd.

1.     How long have you been working in the IT/SAP business?

My career in IT/SAP business started on 1997, since there I have been working in the SAP world, firstly as SAP FI-CO consultant, after that as IT Application supervisor for ZF South America and since 2007 I am leading ZF Application department for Asia Pacific, based on Shanghai.

Professional experience:

²  02 years of experience in ZF (China) Investment Co., Ltd. as IT Manager;

²  10 years of experience in ZF do Brasil, 4 years as IT Application Supervisor;

²  13 years of experience with SAP;

²  Information Technology project management;

²  SAP implementation in Brazil, Argentina, China and Italy;

²  Project Manager for SAP Implementation;

²  Responsible for IT Application area (all softwares)

²  Off-shore SAP development coordination for ZF group from Brazil to ZF worldwide;

²  SAP CO and PP modules functional consultant;

²  SAP ABAP programming knowledge;

²  Finance, commercial, controlling and production system development;

 

2.  The responsibility of a CIO is not only restricted to operation, but also to strategy management nowadays. What is your opinion about this?

I totally agree that the CIO should be part of the strategy process, for a lot of companies strategic plan can benefit from the technology. Information Technology is the road for the necessary actions to achieve the strategic goals. CIO needs to understand the organizations` goals and objectives.



3. When did you hear first time about the ACSU – Chinese SAP User Group?

In 2007 I was transferred to Shanghai to build up a SAP application team to support all the ZF plants in Asia Pacific, in my former position at ZF South America, I was member of ASUG Brasil (Brazilian SAP User Group), as soon as I arrived in Shanghai I got in contact with SAP China to check where and how I could join in a similar group, SAP China informed me about it.

 

4.  Why did you finally decide to join the ACSU in the Management board - what is your motivation to support the ACSU?

I had some experiences with SAP user group, and because this experience, I know how important is to have a group like this. This group was just starting in China and I took this opportunity to join it since the beginning. ACSU creates real advantage to us (SAP users) and it is a source for real experiences, networking and valued voice for SAP influence, these were my motivation to be part and support this group.

5.  What is the goal for you in the ACSU – what would you like to achieve for the members?

As a SAP community of SAP professionals, ACSU members are engaged in helping each other find new and better ways to solve problems and achieve our business goals. ACSU is the way to organize conferences, seminars, meetings of groups on specific themes. From these events, doubts appear, needs, SAP software application and change of experiences among the associates.

 

6.     Which kind of services and/or achievements of SAP China are you admiring mostly?

SAP support and commitment to explain to the Chinese companies about ACSU, how ACSU can support their SAP environment.

7.   In your opinion, how should the ACSU contribute to the Chinese SAP community - what is your vision of the ACSU during the next 5 years?

I believe ACSU is the safest and fast road for the SAP users to act together, determining priorities and monitoring the development and the technological progress of SAP application, through solicitations generated in the Work Groups, to create value to the associates by searching of common solutions, from knowledge sharing and representation for collective interests close to SAP. Our group has just started, today we have more international than Chinese companies, I hope also the Chinese companies can realize how important and helpful is this group and make ACSU stronger like we have in others regions ASUG in America and DSAG in German.

 

8.   What is your vision for SAP China during the next 5 years?

The market in China is growing year by year, we are seeing a lot of Chinese companies going abroad, more and more Chinese companies are using SAP. According to SAP web page in China (http://www.sap.com/china/about/saplabs/index.epx) they have a target of around 1500 employee in China in 2009, these numbers can give us an idea about SAP growing expectation.

9.  Do you have any suggestions in which areas ACSU can provide more or better services?

As I already mentioned it, ACSU has just started and now ACSU needs our active participation, we as associated should guide this group to assist our local needs and we are responsibles for the success of this group, I believe that ACSU is in the right way, we had a lot of good events in 2009 and the Chinese SAP community started to get to know from ACSU, in 2010 ACSU will continue to provide great events.  

10.     The ACSU is a community for both – local Chinese and international – companies. Many international companies joined already the ACSU and are familiar with the User Group model. If a local company asks you why to join the ACSU, how do you convince them?

 

If your company has SAP you should be ACSU member.

The international companies have experiences with this SAP Users Groups, and because of that, you just have to inform them we have this group in China and they will be part of it, they know how helpful and important is to have this group, for Chinese companies it is a new experiences to them, with SAP support, these companies starting get to know ACSU, but it is a matter of time and they will realize how ACSU is important. I am confident, in a few years, ACSU will be in the same position than others SAP User Groups worldwide.