UPDATE: Zásilkovna for Shopify Is Almost Ready 🎉

If you run a Czech or Slovak store on Shopify, you've probably noticed that using Zásilkovna (a Czech/Slovak parcel locker delivery network) hasn't exactly been a simple solution. After several years without an available solution, a friend from Prague built one himself: https://rousek.name/shopify-zasilkovna.

That wasn't without its flaws, though:

• it wasn't scalable,
• it wasn't cheap,
• it wasn't easy to implement,
• the customer interface had its weak points.

Because of these exact problems, after about a year Josef started redirecting customers interested in a Shopify-Zásilkovna integration to us, and took his own solution down from the web.

Did we pull it off?

Yes, we did. In 2019 we built this integration for one client: Mana™️. And then we realized it was time to build a configurable app available to everyone, even though it wouldn't be usable on Shopify Plus.

The great news is that we've already tested both the alpha and beta versions with our first two clients. Thanks to their feedback we discovered weak points as well as opportunities for improvement. And now everything is almost ready, with the proposed changes integrated. We believe we'll launch the app at the start of April.

Important information about the current version of the app, which you'll be able to install into your stores:

1. The admin, meaning what you see, not your customers, will for now be in English only, to allow for faster development.
2. Initially there won't be an option to export or sync orders to Zásilkovna or print labels. For that you'll need to temporarily use a different app: https://apps.shopify.com/export-orders-to-zasilkovna-cz - also by Josef Rousek 🙏
   We'll implement this feature sooner or later too. It's not overly complex. For now we're skipping this step so you can start using the app right away.
3. The app won't be available through the Shopify App Store yet. Their approval process takes 2-4 weeks and we don't want you to have to wait that long. Fortunately, we can share a simple link that lets you install the app straight into your store.

You're probably now asking the main question - how much will it cost?

Pricing

Good question! Honestly, we don't know yet. We're trying to find a balance between:

• the value of the product - there won't be an easier, better, cheaper, or faster solution,
• the market price - how much a customer is willing and able to pay,
• fairness for both sides,
• sustainability - we can't work on or maintain the app without a profit: we also have families to take care of :).

The option we're leaning towards most so far is offering a different price depending on the client's Shopify plan, while giving all clients access to the same features. Mainly because:

• starting businesses will be able to afford more advanced features and automation without suffering from being unable to pay for them,
• stores with higher turnover, and therefore a more advanced plan, usually require more collaboration and attention from us, and so will be able to afford to support the app more financially,
• larger businesses, who understand the value and sense in paying more for Shopify, will see that same value in a higher price for our product as well.

And here's what that looks like for other apps on Shopify. Please don't focus on the prices right now, just the structure:

What's your opinion? Let us know. We'll appreciate every bit of feedback. There's also a possibility we'll have 2 or 3 plans with different prices depending on the features a client wants:

• more customization options,
• more automation,
• more options for international use,
• and so on...

So what happens now?

Our step-by-step launch plan:

1. Finish implementation details based on feedback from our first clients.
2. Share a public link to install the app with you and the world, so you can start using it.
3. Price 0. Nothing. Nada. FREE. Gratis..... For now.
4. Then we'll prepare the final details for approval in the Shopify App Store, including payment plans.
5. Once the app is approved in the Shopify App Store, everyone who installed it will be prompted to choose a plan or approve a payment method for the app.
6. After that we'll keep improving the app. We'll be open to suggestions and new requests, but first of all we'll implement export and/or automatic order sync to Zásilkovna.

If this update caught your interest and you haven't yet signed up for Zásilkovna updates, you can do that here. Or just look forward to the next update 👍