Data Maturity 
Data
Qlik

Data Maturity: Unlocking Business Potential with Talend, Qlik, and HICO Group AG 

Written by
Bastian Lossen 
CCO Managing Partner
Bastian Lossen serves as the Managing Partner and Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) at HICO-Group AG. Since joining the company in 2019, he has been instrumental in driving growth and fostering innovation, with a strong focus on delivering cutting-edge collaborative BI and secure data platforms. Based in the vibrant community of Ermatingen, Switzerland, Bastian brings over 20 years of fintech experience to advance HICO’s vision and expand its impact. 
Publication date
13 June 2025
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In today’s data-driven world, achieving data maturity is a critical milestone for organizations aiming to transform raw data into actionable insights. Data maturity refers to an organization’s ability to effectively collect, manage, integrate, analyze, and govern data to drive strategic decision-making. By progressing through the stages of data maturity - awareness, adoption, optimization, and innovation - businesses can unlock significant competitive advantages. Central to this journey are robust data integration and analytics platforms like Talend and Qlik, with expert implementation partners like HICO Group AG ensuring seamless adoption and optimization. 


The Stages of Data Maturity

  1. Awareness: At this initial stage, organizations recognize the value of data but often struggle with siloed systems, inconsistent data quality, and manual processes. Basic reporting tools may be in use, but insights are limited. 
  2. Adoption: Organizations begin to implement structured data management practices, integrating disparate data sources and establishing governance frameworks. Tools like Talend and Qlik become critical here for streamlining data integration and analytics. 
  3. Optimization: With mature data pipelines and governance in place, organizations optimize processes for efficiency and scalability. Advanced analytics, real-time insights, and self-service capabilities empower users across departments. 
  4. Innovation: At the pinnacle of data maturity, organizations leverage AI, machine learning, and predictive analytics to drive innovation. Data becomes a strategic asset, enabling proactive decision-making and new business models. 

Qlik Talend: The Backbone of Data Integration and Governance 

Qlik Talend is a leading data integration and management platform that empowers organizations to achieve data maturity by simplifying the process of accessing, transforming, and governing data. Its comprehensive suite, including the Talend Data Fabric, offers a unified environment for designing and executing data integration workflows, ensuring data quality, and monitoring pipelines. Key features that support data maturity include: 

  • Seamless Data Integration: Qlik Talend supports a wide range of data sources with over 1,000 pre-built connectors, enabling organizations to consolidate data from on-premises and cloud environments. This is critical for breaking down silos in the awareness and adoption stages. 
  • Data Quality and Governance: Qlik Talend’s automated data quality checks, profiling, and cleansing capabilities ensure high-quality, trustworthy data. Features like the Talend Trust Score provide visibility into data health, fostering confidence in decision-making as organizations move toward optimization. 
  • Scalability and Real-Time Processing: Qlik Talend’s cloud-native architecture and real-time data streaming capabilities support growing data volumes and enable agile decision-making, essential for the innovation stage. 

By providing a low-code platform, Qlik Talend empowers both technical and business users to collaborate on data management, accelerating the journey to data maturity. 



Qlik Analytics Cloud: Empowering Analytics and Insights 

Qlik Analytics Cloud complements Talend by delivering a powerful analytics platform that transforms integrated data into meaningful insights. Known for its associative data model and AI-driven analytics, Qlik Analytics Cloud enables organizations to uncover hidden trends and make data-driven decisions. Its role in data maturity includes: 

  • Self-Service Analytics: Qlik Sense offers intuitive dashboards and visualizations, allowing users at all skill levels to explore data interactively. This democratizes analytics, supporting the adoption and optimization stages. 
  • Real-Time Insights: Qlik’s in-memory analytics and SaaS-based Qlik Cloud provide real-time data access, critical for organizations optimizing processes or innovating with dynamic decision-making. 
  • AI-Powered Analytics: With Qlik AutoML, organizations can build predictive models without coding, enabling advanced analytics in the innovation stage. Qlik’s AI capabilities enhance data literacy and drive strategic outcomes. 

The acquisition of Talend by Qlik in 2023 has created a comprehensive end-to-end data platform, combining Talend’s data integration and governance strengths with Qlik’s analytics prowess. This synergy accelerates data maturity by providing a seamless flow from data ingestion to actionable insights. 


HICO Group AG: The Implementation Partner for Success 

Implementing sophisticated platforms like Talend and Qlik requires expertise, and HICO Group AG stands out as a leading implementation partner. Based in Switzerland, with a global presence, HICO specializes in designing and deploying state-of-the-art business intelligence (BI) and data management solutions. Their partnership with Talend and Qlik, alongside other leading vendors like Jedox and Microsoft, ensures tailored solutions that align with organizational goals

HICO’s contributions to data maturity include: 
  • Strategic Guidance: HICO helps organizations define clear data governance strategies and KPIs using their Results-Oriented KPI System (ROKS). This ensures alignment with business objectives, particularly in the adoption and optimization stages. 
  • Expert Implementation: HICO’s certified consultants leverage industry standards like IBCS (International Business Communication Standards) to deliver customized Talend and Qlik solutions. For example, their TRUECHART extension for Qlik enhances visualization and collaboration, streamlining reporting processes. 
  • Proven Success: HICO has a track record of transforming data ecosystems. For instance, Siemens Smart Infrastructure used Qlik Sense with HICO’s TRUECHART to improve procurement efficiency, reducing report generation times from minutes to seconds. 
  • Training and Support: HICO provides workshops and training to boost data literacy, ensuring organizations maximize the value of Talend and Qlik. This is crucial for sustaining data maturity over time. 

HICO’s holistic approach, combining technological expertise with a focus on collaboration, makes them an ideal partner for organizations aiming to advance their data maturity. 

 

Best Practices for Advancing Data Maturity 

To leverage Talend, Qlik, and HICO Group AG effectively, organizations should adopt the following best practices: 

  1. Define a Clear Data Strategy: Establish governance objectives and policies to ensure data consistency and security. HICO’s ROKS system can guide this process. 
  2. Optimize Data Models: Use Qlik’s associative data model and Talend’s integration capabilities to structure data for efficient analysis. 
  3. Implement Robust Governance: Assign data stewardship roles and use Talend’s workflows to ensure accountability and transparency. 
  4. Leverage AI and Automation: Utilize Qlik’s AI-driven insights and Talend’s automated quality checks to drive innovation and efficiency. 
  5. Partner with Experts: Engage HICO Group AG to design and implement solutions tailored to your organization’s maturity level and goals. 


Data Maturity Assessment

In collaboration with Qlik and BARC, we are pleased to offer you a free Data Maturity Assessment. This quick, 12-minute evaluation measures how data-driven your organization is by assessing your data and analytics capabilities across 7 categories and 28 sub-categories. It provides a clear snapshot of your current maturity level, helping you benchmark your organization against peers and identify best practices to share with your team.  

Access Data Maturity Assessment


Conclusion 

Achieving data maturity is a transformative journey that requires the right tools and expertise. Talend and Qlik provide a powerful, integrated platform for data integration, governance, and analytics, enabling organizations to progress from awareness to innovation. As a leading implementation partner, HICO Group AG ensures these technologies are deployed effectively, delivering measurable business value. By combining Talend’s data management capabilities, Qlik’s analytics prowess, and HICO’s strategic guidance, organizations can unlock the full potential of their data and thrive in a fact-based world.