Evaluate transit times to end markets, WMS/API integration, dock and staging capacity, temperature control and value‑added services, historical throughput and SLA compliance, billing transparency (pick/ship fees, storage tiers), minimums and scalability, and references for similar eCommerce or omnichannel flows.

Key factors include scheduled ferry/short-sea frequency and reliability, port handling capacity, local trucking links and consolidation windows, availability of parcel carrier pickups and drop‑ship integrations, and weather or seasonal constraints that can introduce variability to transit times.

Advantages: lower real estate and often lower operational costs, simpler parking and yard access, and attractive inventory holding economics. Trade-offs: potential for longer or less predictable transit times due to ferry/sea legs, increased consolidation needs, and the requirement to hold safety stock or use buffer nodes to meet tight SLAs.

Providers commonly offer WMS-driven order routing, pick-and-pack, kitting/labeling, returns handling and inspection, and temporary capacity increases through seasonal labor or networked overflow agreements. Verify their proven peak-season performance, reverse logistics workflows, and contingency plans tied to ferry and port schedules.