Interview with Marc Pérez – Managing Director EMEA at Simon

Simon is a multinational company with over a century of experience in the design and marketing of electrical materials. A leader in its sector, it stands out for its diversified focus, compassing everything from control systems to innovative lighting solutions and electric vehicle charging. ith nearly 4,000 employees and a presence in 120 countries, Simon has maintained its leadership through constant innovation and digital transformation. A key milestone was the launch of the Simon 100 and 270 series, which revolutionized home automation with their connected lighting and intuitive control.

We spoke with Marc Pérez, Managing Director for EMEA, to learn more about Simon’s evolution, current challenges, and how innovation and sustainability continue to be fundamental pillars for the company in its global expansion.

What role does collaborative innovation play in Simon’s global strategy, and how have you driven it in your management area?

Innovation is a key axis in the company’s growth strategy. As a century-old company, we have the privilege of holding a leadership position in the main markets we operate in. Without a clear commitment to innovation, it would have been impossible for us to maintain this position.

Our purpose is to improve the well-being of people in their homes and workspaces. To achieve this, it is necessary to design new solutions by leveraging technologies like IoT and enhancing the usability of our products.

Simon recently participated in the second edition of INDPULS’s Startup
support program. Why is collaboration with Startups important for the company?

Startups bring us a fresh, agile, and different perspective on how to approach the problems we are trying to solve. This approach can be in the products and solutions, but also in processes or key challenges such as sustainability.

For a company like ours, working alongside INDPULS not only gives us additional support but allows us to address these issues from a more transversal and collaborative perspective

Innovation and digital transformation have been key factors in the
company’s success. What challenges and opportunities have you encountered in implementing this strategy?

In 2016, coinciding with the company’s centenary, we pioneered the launch of the first series of connective mechanisms that opened us to the world of Smart Home. This represents both a challenge and a cultural transformation, as it involves moving from a simple switch to lighting management, and from a socket to energy management.

In recent years, we have had to acquire capabilities we previously lacked, in fields like software or electronics. It’s not just a matter of technological capacity; we need talent with these skills and new ways of working.

The opportunity of digitalization is enormous: electricity with digitalization means being able to offer solutions not only for convenience but also for energy efficiency, providing a double benefit for the user.

With a workforce of nearly 4,000 employees, how does Simon maintain a company culture that promotes innovation and collaboration globally?

We have a “glocal” approach, aiming to capture the synergies of being part of a global community without losing a factor that has always been distinctive for Simon: closeness to the customer.

We have identified common challenges and work on them as a team. For example, the strategy for developing USB as the “universal plug” is a project that has been developed with capabilities from our R&D teams in China and Barcelona.

On the other hand, we continue to stress a message we believe is key: innovation is not exclusive to one department. It is transversal to all areas of the company and must be a requirement at all levels, from production to sales.

At our last Innovation Day held in Madrid, we got to know “La Casa de la Luz,” a Simon space that combines innovation and sensory experience. Where did the idea to create this showroom come from?

The idea was born within Simon. Looking at other sectors, it was clear that the most relevant brands in the world have experimental spaces, and this obviously inspired us.

We are on a journey where it seemed essential to us to be able to showcase what we do. It is very challenging to talk about improving well-being in spaces if we don’t have a place where customers can feel that well-being through better lighting.

How does “La Casa de la Luz” contribute to the company’s strategy to strengthen its relationship with customers and promote new technological solutions?

This space allows us to experiment with new concepts and come closer to hearing firsthand the customer’s voice.

We also take advantage of it to hold events and sessions where we try to understand how certain trends can positively impact us. We invite top-level experts and professionals to share their insights and tell us what they are doing in their companies.

What does INDPULS mean to you?

A community that brings us a lot: Inspiration + Collaboration = Innovation