Damjan Miklić
Episode · #683
PAMETNA HRVATSKA Damjan Miklić
Guest Damjan MiklićHosted by Boris ŽivkovićMay 3, 2026
Damjan Miklić
About this episode
What you'll hear in this conversation
The future of industrial automation isn't just about machines replacing human labor; it's about solving the problem of humans *not wanting* to do certain tasks. Damjan Miklić, founder of RoMb Technologies, has built a business on this insight, developing software that turns ordinary forklifts into autonomous vehicles. These smart forklifts take over the monotonous, repetitive transport jobs that logistics companies struggle to staff, freeing human workers for more complex, engaging roles. Miklić's work shows that the most effective automation isn't just about cutting costs; it's about redesigning work itself.
Insights from the conversation
What to take from this episode
01
Driving forklifts might be engaging initially, but the daily reality of eight-hour shifts doing monotonous transport tasks makes it a job no one wants to do, Miklić explains. The most urgent automation problems aren't about machines doing things faster; they're about machines doing things humans simply don't want to do anymore.
02
RoMb Technologies' core offering isn't a new machine, but the ability to take 'an ordinary manually operated forklift,' upgrade it with sensors and computers, and make it autonomous. This means the value lies not in new hardware, but in the software and conversion expertise that transforms existing industrial assets.
03
The companies looking to automate aren't focused on layoffs; they aim to expand and shift their people to 'more useful tasks, where a person has to use their brain a little,' Miklić says. Automation, in this view, doesn't reduce jobs but redefines them, making industries more competitive and opening new roles for human ingenuity.
04
While RoMb could technically convert old forklifts, Miklić notes it's rarely the most productive solution; the safety equipment alone often costs more than the base forklift itself. The efficiency of standardization often outweighs the perceived benefit of retrofitting existing assets, especially when the core value is in safe, repeatable operations.
05
An autonomous forklift can work 'twenty-four hours a day... reliably, precisely, never making mistakes, never getting distracted,' Miklić explains. This consistency and tireless nature redefine operational expectations, extending capabilities for repetitive tasks far beyond human limits.
06
Securing Omco, a company that holds 'thirty percent of the global market for glass bottle molds,' as their first major client validated RoMb's technology at scale. For large enterprise solutions, a strategic joint venture like Winder Automated Systems, formed with partner Var, is often the most direct path to full-stack delivery.
07
Only 'one percent of forklifts are autonomous today; ninety-nine percent are manually operated,' Miklić points out, in an industry worth thirty to forty billion dollars annually. This vast gap between current adoption and future potential in an established market signals a significant opportunity for disruption.
08
The biggest obstacle to wider adoption, Miklić notes, is the lack of a reliable Warehouse Management System (WMS) that 'automatically knows what's entering the warehouse, where it needs to go.' The full value of automation often requires a higher level of digital maturity in a client's existing systems, making WMS integration a critical prerequisite.