Key operational criteria include:

• Location and transit windows to core customer zones and port/rail gateways
• WMS/API integration, real-time inventory visibility, and reporting
• Scalable capacity, cross-dock capabilities, and robust returns processing

Road connectivity and carrier density determine consolidation opportunities and pickup frequency. Strong highway access reduces drayage and shortens delivery windows, while good parcel network coverage lowers per-order shipping costs. Confirm carrier schedules, cutoffs, and pickup frequencies to align SLAs with customer expectations.

Require a cloud WMS with real-time inventory, API/EDI order and shipment integration, and operational modules for slotting, labor forecasting, and returns. Prefer providers offering EDI/API documentation and sandbox testing to validate end-to-end flows before onboarding.

Yes—lower land and labor costs and centralized reach across western Iberia can reduce cost-to-serve for many SKUs. However, calculate total landed cost including first/last-mile transit, inventory days, and carrier rates to confirm net savings for your freight profile.

Negotiate clear SLAs for order accuracy, cutoffs, and lead times, surge capacity clauses and capped peak-rate adjustments, defined return-processing times, penalties for missed SLAs, and transparent reporting and audit rights to monitor performance during peaks.