Ricardo Recchi, Country Manager of GeneXus Brazil, Portugal, and Cape Verde, tells us about his management philosophy, his work with channel partners and the latest trends in the channel sector.
Can you describe your current position and its challenging aspects?
I work as the country manager for GeneXus in Brazil, Portugal and Cape Verde. The biggest challenge for me is how each country has a different context and reality regarding the adoption of GeneXus. Therefore, it becomes necessary to think of different strategies for each location. Brazil was a pioneer in applying our platform and, for that reason, has a large number of customers from all segments. In the markets of Portugal and Cape Verde, we have few customers, so we do not yet have many active distributors in these places. However, since Portugal is a location where one of our competitors originated and still has a strong market dominance, we are looking to increase our distributors and services in the region.
How does your company work with channel partners?
At GeneXus, we already have long-standing loyal distributors, so they also have defined focuses of operation by geographic territory.
How do you ensure that channel partners thrive in a highly competitive market?
We establish a geographic preference for our partners, allowing them to invest in lead generation and events, ensuring they can manage the results obtained. Similarly, GeneXus’s lead generation structure distributes clients to partners within their operating territories.
What are the latest trends you see emerging in the channel sector?
Regarding the latest trends, I highlight Artificial Intelligence as the most significant, especially for companies involved with Low-Code. In this context of Digital Transformation, I believe that Low-Code platforms that do not fully incorporate AI will lose relevance in the market. Based on this, I think that soon, the term ‘Low-Code’ will be replaced by ‘Development with AI’ or a similar concept.
What is your management philosophy?
My management philosophy is to focus on hard work, that is, working hard but always with relaxation, good humor, and, of course, trust and respect within the team!
Reflecting on your career, what was the most memorable achievement?
My career is long; this year I completed 40 years in the IT sector. In the last five years as country manager of GeneXus, I managed to maintain an average annual growth rate of around 20%. Before that, as CIO of a multinational, we successfully carried out several important projects, such as unifying and expanding infrastructure and unifying SAP, among others.
What made you consider a career in technology?
Since I was a child, I have loved science fiction. I did a technical course in Data Processing, and I started working in a high-tech environment at 15 years of age. I can say that I am, and always have been, passionate about technology and its applications.
What do you think will be the most talked-about technology topic in 2024?
I believe that Artificial Intelligence will be the central focus of technological discussions in 2024. As we advance, AI is becoming increasingly integrated into various areas, from process automation to innovations in health, finance and education. AI’s ability to learn, adapt and perform complex tasks will continue to capture attention and drive conversations throughout the technology sector. I also think that ethical issues related to AI and its impact on organizations will be frequent topics of discussion. As technology evolves, it becomes necessary for companies to explore new tools safely and effectively.
What are your interests and where do you like to spend most of your time after work?
In my free time, I really like to dedicate myself to gastronomy, oenology and listening to music, especially classical and rock. In addition, I play the violin, and one of my hobbies is the production, mixing, and mastering of music using DAW (Digital Audio Workstations) tools.