WHAT IT’S LIKE TO WORK IN R&D AT CONSAFE LOGISTICS

What does it mean to work in R&D at Consafe Logistics? For some, it's about solving problems with real-world impact. For others, it's about mentoring others, experimenting with new technologies, or seeing your ideas come to life at a customer site. 

We spoke to two team members — Karin and Krzysztof — to learn what R&D really looks like from the inside. 

Karin: A Passion for Problem-Solving and Mentorship 

Karin has been part of Consafe Logistics since 2006, starting in what was then called the international department before developing into a module owner role. Today, she is working as a Software Developer, responsible for automation in our WMS, mentoring a small team, and collaborating closely with other R&D teams. 
 

“I’ve been at Consafe Logistics for many years now – and I’m still enjoying it! The reason? Great colleagues, a supportive culture, and the freedom to explore new ideas and actually shape what’s next.”  

So, what makes working in R&D so exciting? 

For Karin, it's the challenge of solving complex problems—whether in long-term projects or urgent situations. She values the chance to contribute her expertise while working alongside other specialists. One of the most fulfilling parts of her role is visiting customer sites and seeing the direct impact of her work:  

"To be able to see how it all works in real time is such a great feeling," she says.  

Another key aspect of her role is mentoring junior colleagues. Karin finds joy in guiding their development and sharing her knowledge: 

 "It’s so rewarding to guide my colleagues in the right direction and to be there when the penny drops," she says. 

 
What does it take to thrive in R&D? 

There are some personal traits that stand out when it comes to succeeding in R&D and growing within the organization. Karin highlights curiosity, patience, and resilience as essential qualities. A strong sense of initiative, analytical thinking, and the ability to switch between detailed problem-solving and the broader perspective and the impacts of the decisions, are also important for success. 

Krzysztof: From Rookie Developer to Software Manager 

Krzysztof joined Consafe Logistics in 2017 as a Software Developer with no prior commercial IT experience.  

“I had no prior commercial experience in IT at the time. It was kind of scary. I was supposed to be a part of the Elgiganten implementation project and do server coding in C, which I barely knew at the time”, Krzysztof says.  

After some time, Krzysztof moved to R&D.   

“I met a lot of people in the project who helped me when I was fresh and lost. To this day I remember the guidance that my colleague Niklas Lagergren provided me in my early days, when I struggled to spit out even a couple of lines of code which made sense”  

A main motivational driver for Krzysztof is curiosity and willingness to try out new challenges, and besides the role as Senior Developer he has had roles like Scrum Master, Team Lead, and now Engineering Manager. Today, he works as a Software Manager, leading a team of seven people focused on the Web Client — the user-facing part of our software, Astro WMS®. He also plays a key role in shaping the future architecture of the software. 

The most exciting aspects of working within R&D 

For Krzysztof, the most exciting aspects of working in R&D include exploring new technologies – trying them out, evaluating and driving the decision process for choosing them. He also points out the ability to work in an agile way, where each team can establish its own delivery processes, discuss and improve it. Lastly, to be able to participate in a lot of technical discussions, where not opinion but facts matter the most.  

 “The most rewarding part is that the result of our work is a product that will be used by many customers. But with great power comes great responsibility. When we break something it affects every customer. But when it all works fine... we're the ones adding our brick to the success of implementation projects. And that feels good” says Krzysztof.  

Key Qualities for Success  

Success in R&D, according to Krzysztof, requires creativity, deep system knowledge, and the ability to design, test, and refine solutions. Thinking ahead and considering how decisions affect the wider organization is just as important as technical expertise. 

Why R&D at Consafe Logistics? 

Both Karin and Krzysztof show us that working in R&D is about more than just code and systems — it’s about solving real problems, supporting each other, and continuously improving the way we work. Whether it’s guiding a colleague, shaping product architecture, or seeing your solutions come to life at customer sites - the work done in R&D has a real impact. 

Want to shape the future of warehouse tech? 

Explore open roles in R&D and discover how your curiosity, creativity, and problem-solving mindset could help shape the future of logistics.