Hello Rajat and SJ, could you please briefly introduce yourselves and your team?
Rajat: Hello, I am Rajat. As the director of the Central Operations Planning (COP) team at Coupang Fulfillment Services (CFS), I manage planning for both the Core and Fresh logistics networks.
Our responsibilities at CFS span a wide range of functions, including capacity planning, manpower planning, hourly throughput (HTP) coordination, and service management using efficient and effective planning tools.
We strive to create seamless planning processes that enable flawless execution, ultimately delivering an unrivaled shopping and delivery experience to our customers.
SJ: My name is SJ. I joined the COP team in September 2024. The COP team is responsible for analyzing and planning aimed at enhancing productivity and cost efficiency across Coupang’s nationwide fulfillment centers (FCs).
Can you tell us about your previous role and what motivated you to join CFS?
Rajat: At Coupang, I spent about two years working on long-term planning, inbound planning, and network design. What drew me to CFS was the nature of the challenges and the way problems are defined here. It has offered valuable learning opportunities and helped me build new capabilities — crucial for long-term career growth.
SJ: Previously, I was involved in selection-related tasks, which were quite different from the work done in the COP team. What motivated me to join CFS was the opportunity to gain hands-on experience and learn how logistics centers and supply chain management operate in the field.
CFS is a leading company that continues to innovate rapidly despite its scale, and I wanted to be part of that journey — contributing to real, meaningful changes.
SJ, working on his laptop
Did you have any reservations about moving into the logistics industry through the COP team considering your career background is not directly related to logistics?
SJ: To be honest, I was a bit worried at first since I was not familiar with the logistics field. However, as I began working and deepened my understanding of the e-commerce industry, I started to see greater value and meaning in this area clearly. That made me appreciate my decision to join COP, and now I truly enjoy what I do.
COP is an ideal team for learning and growth, and it is one of the most unique teams within CFS, as it offers an opportunity to gain hands-on experience with the entire operational flow of our fulfillment centers. I am really proud to be part of that team.
What does a typical day look like for the COP team members?
Rajat: COP team members are responsible for overall workforce planning and managing various key customer-facing and time-sensitive metrics. Daily tasks include developing staffing plans for the day, the next day, and the next seven days, along with in-depth analysis and oversight of various services and cost-related metrics. This role involves close communication with various stakeholders across the organization.
The work can largely be divided into two areas: operations and analysis to improve FC processes.
Operations include regularly reviewing manpower plans for each FC and working with relevant teams to refine and improve them. Process improvement focuses on analyzing data to enhance productivity and operational efficiency across the FCs and identifying opportunities for making improvements. Additionally, we also frequently visit FCs to deepen our understanding of on-site workflows.
What career paths can you pursue after joining the COP team?
Rajat: The COP team is an ideal place to explore a wide range of career paths, including supply chain planning, capacity planning, supply chain operations, business analysis, data analysis, and data science. The team actively encourages members to develop these capabilities and provides training to support their growth.
At COP, you will have the opportunity to develop expertise in both FC operations and data analysis. The team fosters a strong culture of personal growth, making it a great place to grow professionally.
This role involves working on weekends and holidays as part of a shift-based schedule. What are some pros and cons of this work arrangement?
Rajat: Working on weekends or holidays might feel unfamiliar at first, but it comes with several benefits. You can work remotely, and the schedule is quite flexible. Depending on your situation, weekend or holiday shifts also allow for revisiting questions or discussions that may have been missed during the weekdays and engaging in thoughtful discussions with colleagues, often leading to better solutions.
As long as the team's scheduling remains balanced, members can choose their days off based on personal convenience. This saves effort and time spent on daily work planning, allowing them to focus more on problem-solving, structured thinking, analysis, and deriving insights. These are essential elements for success in any role.
The COP team
When do you feel most proud working as part of the COP team?
Rajat: One of the greatest advantages of this role is that there are plenty of opportunities to learn and solve complex, challenging problems. The culture of continuous learning, combined with a well-structured reward system, keeps our team motivated, creating a win-win situation for both the organization and the individual.
SJ: The most rewarding moment for me is when I proactively identify issues with an FC or another team, develop solutions, and see tangible results. Being able to drive improvements directly based on data in the field and contribute to meaningful change is one of the most fulfilling aspects of working in the COP team.
What is the team culture like at COP?
Rajat: At COP, we actively promote a culture of learning and development. As a team leader, I am committed to ensuring the well-being and care of our members. I strive to ensure that team members are exposed to challenging tasks and interesting problems, which help them learn various key competencies required for success, such as bias for action, keen observation, perseverance, and a never-give-up attitude.
SJ: First, COP has a strong culture of openness where everyone is encouraged to share new ideas and perspectives, and those ideas are always respected. People feel free to ask questions and share opinions, regardless of their level, and we learn from each other every day.
Second, we place a high value on linking personal growth to team success. If someone discovers a more efficient way to use a tool or improve a process, they’re encouraged to share it with the team — and it is something we do naturally.
What skills or qualities are essential for a COP team member?
Rajat: Essential skills or qualities include:
- Problem-solving: Being able to understand complex issues, break them down, and approach them logically.
- Analytical thinking: Being able to interpret data and numbers to derive meaningful insight.
- A strong sense of ownership, commitment, and persistence.
- Strong Excel skills: Essential for analyzing data and generating insights.
The COP team places a strong emphasis on growth, both personal and collective. It is a great environment for anyone who is eager to learn. While Excel and analytical skills are definitely helpful, we welcome candidates who are motivated to grow and learn quickly, especially within a fast-moving, industry-leading organization like CFS.
Do you have any interview tips for candidates interested in a role at COP?
Rajat: I recommend that candidates thoroughly review and practice scenarios and problems related to productivity and volume flow, as these often lead to engaging discussions during the interview. It is also a good idea to refresh your basic math skills so you can easily solve simple problems during the interview. Equally important is the ability to explain the experiences listed on your resume with clarity and depth. Lastly, make sure that you spend time honing your Excel skills, as they are critical parts of the role.
SJ: Having personally experienced the COP interview process, I would encourage candidates not to panic if they do not fully understand a question during the interview. Instead, stay calm and approach the problem thoughtfully. Interviewers also highly value your determination to solve problems and your passion for learning. If you demonstrate a willingness to learn and grow and show determination to find answers, even if you do not get it right away. It will leave a positive impression on the interviewers.
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