In China, many smart factories have reached a level of operation where lighting is almost no longer necessary. Robots and AI handle the entire production processfrom assembly and quality inspection to packaging with speed and precision far beyond human capability. This model helps businesses optimize costs, maintain continuous production, and remain stable in an increasingly competitive environment.

As production advances toward “dark factories,” warehouses where products are received, stored, and distributed must also undergo corresponding changes. Warehouses are no longer just storage spaces; they become operational data centers where every flow of goods is controlled by systems instead of relying on human labor. From this point, the concept of fully automated “dark warehouses” emerges as a logical extension of smart factories.

 From “Dark Factories” to the Inevitable Demand for Warehouse Automation

2.  Dark Warehouses: Not a Distant Vision

A dark warehouse does not mean the complete elimination of human involvement. Rather, it minimizes dependence on direct labor, while inbound, outbound, storage, and coordination activities are operated based on real-time data under the control of automated systems and warehouse management software.

In reality, many large enterprises around the world have already deployed warehouses that operate almost fully automatically, enabling them to process massive volumes of goods with minimal error and continuous 24/7 operation. However, similar to dark factories, dark warehouses are not the starting point but the outcome of a long process involving standardized procedures, data digitization, and step-by-step automation.

For most businesses, the practical goal is not to “switch off the lights” in the warehouse immediately, but to build a foundation that ensures stable operations even when human intervention is no longer frequent. This represents an advanced stage of warehouse automation, achievable only when enterprises have mastered their data and operational processes.

 Dark Warehouses: A New Step in Warehouse Automation

3. Getting Started with Lights-Out Warehouse Automation with Meksmart

To begin the journey toward a lights-out warehouse, enterprises do not necessarily need to make upfront investments in robots or complex hardware systems. The critical foundation lies in process standardization and warehouse data digitization, enabling systems to gradually replace humans in operational coordination.