ShipMonk Product Development

In the early days of ShipMonk there were only a few of us grinding away to grow our 3PL that could. We all lived with Honza Bednář in Florida, where we would spend days discussing strategy, solving problems, programming, and building our business foundations from scratch. It all paid off.

Through hard work, we mastered how to operate in the American market. Now we have fulfillment centers in Mexico, Canada, and Europe too, (which includes our U.K. and Cheb facilities so far). This growth drives us to evolve our established ways of operating as we undertake and conquer new challenges. Our team has no fear it can be done. ShipMonk’s mission is to become a key player in global fulfillment, enabling our clients to ship their goods to any country in the world, quickly and responsibly. That same fighting spirit that got our fulfillment operation off the ground in Florida will continue to drive us and, as we like to say, “Get sh*t done.”

We enjoy logistics, and we enjoy technology. That’s part of the secret to our success. When we think about leveraging technology to improve the ecommerce industry, it becomes a playground with never-ending potential for fun. With that attitude at the forefront, we solve problems for ecommerce brands every day to enhance our clients’ businesses. And not just small problems, issues no other 3PL was solving before. Our tech-driven team pushes the boundaries of what can be accomplished excitedly. Because, for most of us, ShipMonk is not only a job but a lifestyle. We love discovering new ways to improve the work we did yesterday, and improving the lives of entrepreneurs worldwide.

Logistics can be sexy!

ShipMonk operates with a singular guiding principle: help ecommerce brands scale through technology-driven fulfillment solutions that enable entrepreneurs to stress less and grow more. ShipMonk operates 12 worldwide fulfillment centers located in the Czech Republic, U.K, U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Our teams across the globe handle a large assortment of complex operational and strategic aspects of the business. In ShipMonk’s Prague-based development office, we devise ways to enhance our software to operate more efficiently and turn complex systems into user-friendly solutions.

We don’t work according to prepared templates and processes. Rather, we solve difficult problems that appear at random during business operations. We are demanding in our hiring process because of that. It’s not enough to just be technically skilled; you also must be able to analyze issues and form alternative solutions using creativity and persistence. We are “Problem Solvers” here. When we see an issue, we pick through the complexity and solve it. No matter what. We do this by looking at a solution from the business, logistics, and technical points of view. This is because technology is only as strong as it is simple for the masses to use. We design our solutions to be effective and efficient for the people who need them. 

Even though we experiment often, we never do anything halfway. We strive to do everything right from the start. We’re respectful of the fact that a small mistake can have large consequences. That’s why we all need to be responsible for our work, and we all must think about what we do and whether it is truly the best way to solve the problem. Our production code monitors over 10,000 integration tests and double the amount of code reviews. This business logic is guarded by our demanding testing team.

ShipMonk is a place where you can become a true expert in your specialization. We are a team that emphasizes speed, high quality, and personal accountability. When you join the ShipMonk team, you’ll have ample opportunities for tremendous growth and the chance to create outstanding products. If you have the drive to succeed, you will find support from us at every turn.

Every autumn, we experience a mystical affair called “peak” (or peak holiday season), which is the most important period of the whole year for our company. We send the most packages in the shortest amount of time, and our team works at 110% to keep up. Part of our team even goes to North America to assist on-site and experience the hustle and bustle firsthand. The best innovations are born spontaneously during this demanding time, and we call them “peak hacks”. We end up keeping some of them after this crazy season is done and using them to enhance operations going forward.

Solutions aside, we all go through some tough moments during peak. But that’s an opportunity to strengthen our team as we push ourselves to perform at our best and support one another along the way. We always close peak with a holiday party where we tell each other how well we did that year. Afterward, we celebrate together!

We are experienced enough to know that going it alone doesn’t support growth as well as working as a team. When it comes to complex challenges encountered in our 3PL, and the broader industry, we put our heads together because every potential solution needs to be assessed from different perspectives. We present all ideas, harmonize expectations, and debug the direction of the solution. In the process, we don’t pretend; we are honest with each other. If we don’t agree, we approach an issue with intelligent debate of the facts. We don’t look at any matter in only black and white. We always solve problems by considering all angles before we enter the realization phase of a project or solution.

You don't have to worry about boredom or dreary routines at ShipMonk. Our product offerings are so complex and diverse you’ll have a lot to work with and master. Opening new fulfillment centers and expanding our service offerings requires us to constantly adapt to new conditions. We have a highly experienced team, which means you’ll be surrounded by, collaborate with, and learn from the best at this company. Every day at ShipMonk is a new opportunity to push past old potential and grow.

We care deeply about what happens within our company. We ask a lot of questions, engage in discussions, and actively influence the final form and functioning of our product offerings, as well as how we work within our department. When we identify something that isn't working, we react quickly to eliminate bottlenecks and implement improvements. As our 3PL continues rapidly growing, it's important for us to remain agile and adapt flexibly to new challenges. That mindset makes work exciting for us.

ShipMonk is a team-oriented company, and we enjoy meeting and interacting with each other regularly. Although we have the option to work remotely, most of us come to the office regularly because we simply like it there. Being together also tends to spark more ideas, and helps things progress faster.

There's always something happening here as well. Our team organizes a variety of events, both for ShipMonkers and with people outside the company. We often play board games, arrange LAN parties, get drinks after work, enjoy Karlín folklore, and go cycling together. Our colleagues share stories from their travels, make us part of big events in their lives, and teach us new skills like how to care for indoor plants. :)

It's fantastic to see how many teams gradually become autonomous when provided with the right guidance and the freedom to thrive. At ShipMonk, the intention is to have as many self-sufficient teams as possible. We want team leads in each department to not only take responsibility for their part of the process (developing new features and solving problems), but also take ownership of the functioning of their respective domains. We encourage our leaders to think comprehensively, proactively seek metrics to measure their team's performance, and not shy away from making unpopular decisions that benefit the greater good and long-term vision of ShipMonk.

We used to reside in many different office buildings across Prague; right now our main hub is based within beautiful offices in Karlín.

We recently opened a small office in Brno to allow colleagues from the other side of the country to meet and collaborate in person as well. You can find us at Impact Hub, where we have all the comfort of a top-tier facility. We are located close to the main train station, easily accessible by tram or scooter, and just a short distance from the city center.