Jan Zizka

For decades, fully automated “lights-out” warehouses have captured our imagination, but the reality remained out of reach. Recent advances in robotics and AI are changing that, making lights-out execution viable in specific workflows and environments. Progress will be incremental. Today, the most effective approach is hybrid: robots handle the bulk of repetitive work, while humans step in only when needed. This model already supports partial lights-out operations—such as running an unsupervised night shift while managing peak volumes and exceptions during the day. The challenge is not just technical, but economic. Automating the final 10–20% of workflows, where edge cases and judgment calls live, is disproportionately complex and costly. Smart operators focus automation where ROI is strongest, preserve human flexibility where it adds the most value, and steadily reduce the exception set as technology and economics improve. In this session, Brightpick CEO Jan Zizka outlines a practical roadmap to lights-out warehouse operations: where it works today, how to expand it safely and profitably, and what it takes to go fully lights-out.