NOTHING COMPARES TO NIKO

Andy Moss, Managing Director, Moss Technical Services, guides EI through the exciting world of Niko Lighting and Home Control products, the Belgium-based giant in home control with over 100 years in the market.

Andy explains, “Moss Technical are the official UK supplier and training provider for Niko products, in particular Niko Home Control. We train electricians, smart home installers and other industry professionals on how to design, specify and install Niko Home Control. We are a small family-owned business based in South Wales with seven staff, but support the UK, Channel Islands and Northern Ireland.”

Founded by ex RAF aircraft electronics engineer, Andy Moss, the team is also led by Nicky Moss and comprises office staff and engineers, Andy’s highly specialist training and discipline form the foundations of the business.

For those not yet familiar with the Niko brand, Andy explains, “Niko Home Control is a Belgian manufactured smart home solution, designed and built to work in complete harmony with the electrical installation systems of a home. Whilst many smart home systems focus on the audio distribution, home cinema or video distribution, Niko controls lighting, heating, ventilation and shading as its core functions - making it a true native when it comes to home automation. It can of course also control music and many partner brands. IFTTT, voice control, HVAC control and so forth are all easy to integrate and there are also drivers for full compatibility with Control4 and ELAN systems.”

Andy and his team became involved in distributing and supporting Niko as they were experienced installers of the system and following some international restructuring the UK office that was dealing with Niko closed. Andy approached the company and the era of Moss Technical supplying and supporting the Niko brand for the UK began in April of 2011.

Underlining what he feels are the main strengths of the Niko concept, Andy says, “Niko is a good fit for many parts of the smart home market. For established installers it delivers a strong level of control and ease of installation many will appreciate and with over 100 years of engineering experience behind the brand, it’s a brand you can really rely on. For those just coming into the market, especially from an electrical installation background, Niko is primarily focussed on a level of control they are familiar with including lighting, heating, ventilation and shading control. As additional functionality such as networking, multiroom music systems, AV/TV distribution are optional, Niko is less daunting for newer installers and provides a great gateway into the market. Whether an experienced installer or a newby, Niko has something to offer.”

Andy adds, “We are actively involved in the field with installation support and are fully accredited and practicing NICEIC electricians, so have loads of on-site experience and as such are able to fully and genuinely support the brand no matter what the issue.”

Andy expands on the level of support and understating on offer, “Moss Technical are unique in that we are not only the suppliers of the product, but we install on-site where we have projects in areas where there are no trained installers, working with clients directly in order to deliver the end result. Crawling through attics, carrying out rewires and installing equipment means that we know what it is like for installers and understand the system inside and out. We are also experienced installers of many other types of electrical systems such as CCTV, gate control and alarms so our knowledge of the issues encountered is very thorough. We will often help installers out of hours in order to make sure the client is happy and their expectations are met or exceeded.”

Training in the UK for the brand is modular and is carried out via live video link, where an installer can follow the training in manageable sessions from the comfort of their own office and not have to write off time and cost in travel and accommodation. The Niko training is also CEDIA accredited and CEU training points are awarded on completion of each module. The training can also be split in that the more basic modules can be carried out at the point of, or in advance of specifying Niko for a project, and then the more advanced parts can be carried out to suit conditions and time schedules nearer the point of completion and handover.

There are also a number of installations for demo purposes in the UK, including the Moss Technical offices in Pyle, Bridgend. Also, at Swindon in the National Self Build & Renovation Centre and at the Education House at the Gravenhill site in Bicester.

Andy adds, “We also exhibit at shows throughout the UK and can also carry out virtual live demo’s with installers and clients directly. Our goal is to help the installer win a project as we both win, so we are happy to converse and help sell the benefits of Niko directly to a client on the installer’s behalf.”

Andy highlights some of the key takeaways from how Niko operates, “Niko has a large R&D department and are constantly improving the product. We are seeing more DALI control in domestic installation now and Niko are up to speed with that. Also skilled at software developments and roll out, Niko customers and installers carry on benefiting from R&D from improvements and new functionality as these are automatically uploaded to existing systems. The company has a strong history here updating its systems to include voice control, IFTTT, HVAC control and partner brand integration as these became available, this will of course continue.”

As for the future, Andy is confident Niko can keep pace, “As our expectations grow, based on our life experiences, technology needs to meet these needs. Until we had the functionality of a smart phone, we didn’t realise the possibilities. Now that we know what is possible, we expect it, and this means increasingly customers will expect it from the home. This is why Niko is constantly working on meeting these needs in an ever-changing market. The beauty of Niko is that these improvements are implemented with a simple software upgrade and not having to change hardware! Niko is also able to adapt to different budget situations meaning its adaptable across the smart home sector.”

Maintaining a strong work/life balance is also important to Andy, “There’s no denying that I love my work, when I am driving it. When it starts to drive me, then I need a release and time away with Nicky is really important to us both. Our camper van is a haven, getting around the UK and exploring new parts of the country on our bikes is bliss, especially the Cotswolds. For when I need solitude and a complete switch off, fly fishing is my passion where the tranquillity and wildlife that experience is a gift.

“Nicky founded and runs a charity called Cost Of Cancer (www.costofcancer.org.uk) which is a registered charity issuing grants to people going through cancer treatment, often outlaying hundreds or even thousands of pounds to pay peoples bills, mortgage, rent and expenses to ease the money worries that come hand in hand with having cancer.”

Moss Technical mosstech.co.uk