This month’ s cover story, which can be found on page 14, features Thiago Santi, IT Manager at Hydronorth. He tells us that the company had struggled with fragmented information across departments, which slowed decision-making and created inefficiencies.

Despite these challenges, SMEs are ambitious and increasingly outward-looking, with many working with international suppliers and planning to expand global partnerships, particularly in Mexico and Brazil.

By adopting Qlik’ s analytics platform, Hydronorth has centralized data, automated processes, and integrated previously disconnected departments, establishing a company-wide data-driven culture. The platform allows teams to access real-time analytics, streamline reporting and reduce data processing times from 40 minutes to just 40 seconds. Predictive insights and automated dashboards now support inventory control, cost management and production planning, helping the company anticipate market demands more effectively.

Santi notes that these improvements have increased agility, accuracy, and strategic focus across the organization, freeing staff to concentrate on highvalue work. The implementation has also fostered cross-departmental collaboration and a culture where employees understand the strategic value of information. Hydronorth plans to expand its analytics capabilities further, leveraging AI and data insights to drive efficiency, competitiveness and sustainable growth.

Elsewhere, we learn how a new Mastercard study highlights that small and medium-sized enterprises( SMEs) in Latin America and the Caribbean face high costs, delays and hidden fees when making crossborder payments.

The report, developed with PCMI and K2, shows that LAC SMEs are driving rapid growth in cross-border trade, with volumes expected to double from US $ 0.7 trillion in 2024 to US $ 1.4 trillion by 2030.

However, the current payment infrastructure is not designed to meet their needs, limiting efficiency and transparency. Mastercard calls for faster, more costeffective, and transparent solutions to unlock SME potential and fuel economic growth across the region. You can read more starting on page 24.

Don’ t forget, you can stay informed with daily news updates on our website, where we bring you the latest insights and developments from the world of business technology. I’ d like to wish you a productive and successful month ahead. Please enjoy this issue and take your time to explore the articles. See you next time.

Mark Bowen Editor

www. intelligentcio. com INTELLIGENTCIO LATAM 3