My KNX journey didn’t start in a showroom or at a trade fair — it started in Customer Services when I first joined Wandsworth Group, the home of GIRA in the UK.
Back then, I was picking up call after call, and one thing kept coming up again and again: KNX. Customers were asking about it constantly. What it could do. Whether it would work with their projects. Whether it could solve problems that nothing else quite could. That curiosity — from the customers themselves — is what first pulled me in.
Starting in Customer Services gave me something incredibly valuable: a real understanding of what people actually need. Not theory, not brochures but day-to-day challenges, real expectations, real solutions. I learned what customers were trying to achieve, where they were getting stuck, and how often the answer to their question was simply: yes, KNX can do that.
Because that’s the thing about KNX — it’s a protocol where the sky really is the limit. It can control a home or a building from head to toe, making everything work together seamlessly by creating bespoke scenes. Lighting, heating, shading, audio, security — all under one intelligent, future-proof backbone. A protocol that’s used worldwide, trusted for decades, and powerful enough to make any product smart when it sits under its umbrella.
That first step in Customer Services gave me the confidence to truly understand KNX — not just how it works, but why it matters. It showed me how big a role KNX plays in shaping projects, solving problems, and opening up possibilities. In my experience, when it comes to KNX, the answer is almost always yes — it’s just a matter of figuring out the how.
And that’s what continues to drive me: helping spread the word, supporting customers, and showing just how limitless this protocol really is.
When I stepped into my role as Key Account Manager for GIRA, everything became even more exciting.
Suddenly, those conversations weren’t happening over the phone anymore. They were happening face to face — at trade shows, in showrooms, across tables, and in real spaces. No slides. No long emails. Just honest conversations about a protocol that genuinely makes anything possible. It was a chance to share my passion for KNX in its purest form; human to human.
That’s also where my understanding deepened. Working closely with our Technical Manager, Steve Davanzo, helped me connect the dots on a much more technical level. He gave me the clarity and confidence to answer questions properly — not just what KNX can do, but how and why. And just when I thought my curiosity had peaked, KNX pulled me in even further.
That’s when it clicked: KNX isn’t just a protocol — it’s becoming the new normal,
KNX is the future, not just globally, but right here in the UK.
Images courtesy of Function Control, Mosaic AV & Avinu – see projects page for more
We realised that if we truly wanted to change the way people think about smart homes, we had to re-align our approach and start being more proactive — moving away from simply reacting, and instead leading with clarity, confidence, and purpose. And that shift was perfectly summed up by something our Commercial Director, Will Broadbent, once said:
“If we do what we’ve always done, we’ll always get what we’ve always got.”
That line stuck with me — and still guides how I approach the market today.
It led us to rethink how we handle enquiries, how we explain KNX, and how we position Gira — as a powerful, elegant way to access the full potential of KNX. The products became the bridge: intuitive for users, practical for installers, and deeply capable under the surface.
The first step of that new approach was Smart Home in a Box — Using the Gira One range, we created a clear and accessible starting point. a way to make smart homes genuinely accessible. Not intimidating. Not overcomplicated. And not limited by budget or property size. It gave electricians confidence, customers clarity, and projects a structure that could grow over time.
And when that next step comes, Gira and KNX continue the journey together — scaling from simple control to fully bespoke smart homes, without throwing anything away or starting again.
Using the Gira One range, we created clear, approachable starting points. Fully aware that it’s a closed protocol — but also knowing it would bring electricians into the room. More importantly, it brought their customers into the smart-home conversation. A system that’s easy to install, easy to understand, and easy to live with — until they’re ready for more.
And when they are ready for more, KNX is already there.
That’s the beauty of it.
Smart Home in a Box gets people into the room. KNX keeps them there.
Because once you understand KNX, you realise something important: when someone asks, “can I do this?” the answer is almost always yes.
It’s just a matter of figuring out how.
