Prioritise RoRo and shortsea access at the port, highway connections (Bass Highway) for regional road distribution, bonded storage capacity, temperature‑controlled facilities if required, and demonstrated integrations with national carriers to minimise freight handoffs and transit delays.

Consider lower property and labour costs in Devonport as a potential margin advantage, but balance that against throughput needs, seasonal labour availability, automation levels, and the 3PL's ability to meet SLA peaks without service degradation.

Require real‑time inventory visibility, multi‑channel order routing, pick‑and‑pack accuracy, returns processing, carrier API integrations and the option for value‑added services (kitting, light assembly) to support omnichannel delivery expectations.

Negotiate clear KPIs: on‑time in‑full (OTIF), order accuracy, inventory accuracy, dock‑to‑stock lead times, damage/claims thresholds and defined remedies or service credits tied to performance to protect distribution continuity.