Brazilian manufacturer Hydronorth has streamlined its operations and accelerated strategic decisions by embracing Qlik’s AI-powered data analytics platform, transforming company-wide data access and reducing process times from 40 minutes to just 40 seconds.
Hydronorth, one of Brazil’s leading manufacturers of paints and resins, has transformed its operational management through Qlik’s analytics platform. Qlik, a global leader in data integration, data quality, analytics and AI, is helping the company centralize information, automate processes and integrate previously disconnected departments. This shift is driving efficiency and establishing a company-wide culture centered on data. The initiative was supported by Nordica’s Customer Success team, Qlik’s Master Reseller in Brazil.
“Our information was fragmented between different departments, which used different and isolated parameters to calculate indicators. This lack of integration compromised decisions, generated operational inefficiencies and lack of governance, in addition to overloading the IT team with demands that could be automated,” said Thiago Santi, IT Manager at Hydronorth.
According to Santi, difficulty in obtaining accurate data directly affected strategic decision-making and slowed the company’s response to market demands, as leaders lacked a comprehensive view of the organization.
With the adoption of Qlik’s platform – particularly Qlik Talend and Qlik Sense – Hydronorth consolidated its databases into a unified data lake. The centralized structure now supports departments like sales, production, logistics and finance through interactive dashboards and automated reports. Users access real-time analytics for monitoring KPIs such as billing, production and payment goals.
“This integration allowed us to have more agility and accuracy in the interpretation of essential metrics for sustainable business growth,” said Santi.
Qlik’s platform allows the entire organization to visualize and interpret large volumes of data in real time using intuitive tools. Automating data integration and analysis has eliminated manual tasks that once consumed significant time, freeing teams to focus on strategic work. In some cases, data processing time has decreased from 40 minutes to just 40 seconds. In one department alone, the team is saving about 10 hours per week that were previously spent building reports and databases.
The system also enables Hydronorth to monitor 9,000 pallet racks in detail, improving inventory control and reducing losses from product expiration or logistical errors. Qlik Sense’s predictive analytics flag goods nearing expiration, allowing the company to act up to six months in advance with measures such as promotional campaigns to boost inventory turnover and protect margins.
By using Qlik’s AI features, Hydronorth can now assess how packaging size affects product lead times, enabling strategic adjustments in production. Previously challenging small-package formats are now handled more efficiently, reducing costs and improving logistics resource use. Detailed visibility into production processes also allows the company to identify operational bottlenecks, such as pallet movements, and optimize logistics flows.
Hydronorth has also built a more robust cost analysis foundation for each product, factoring in transportation, storage and raw material expenses. With clearer graphical insights, teams can detect where financial losses may occur and take action accordingly. These insights support faster, more assertive decision-making and improve cost control.
“Qlik’s platform also provides insights into forecasting market demands, such as seasonal variations, so that the organization can anticipate and take advantage of new opportunities by adjusting its production and sales strategies in a more agile way, always based on objective data. The project with Hydronorth exemplifies how data can lay a solid foundation for the businesses of the future using technology as a key driver for success,” said Olimpio Pereira, Country Manager at Qlik Brazil.
Data culture and information democratization
One of the biggest shifts triggered by Qlik’s implementation has been the democratization of data access. Each department now makes decisions based on up-to-date, reliable information. Through training and cross-departmental engagement, Hydronorth has cultivated a data-driven culture where employees understand and leverage the strategic value of information in daily operations.
This cultural transformation has fostered a more collaborative environment, aligning departments with shared objectives and improving company-wide synergy.
Hydronorth plans to further expand its analytics capabilities in the near future. The company envisions additional growth opportunities by adopting more innovations that reinforce its efficiency and competitiveness.
“We are very happy with the results obtained by Hydronorth so far with the use of the native functionalities of Qlik Sense and Qlik Talend, which already demonstrate a significant impact on the company’s efficiency and data management,” said Valéria Bastos, Managing Partner at Nordica.
