Prioritize proximity to primary motorways (A10/A83), rail freight availability and driving time to nearby port gateways. Assess the 3PL’s typical transit times to major urban centers, parcel and LTL pickup schedules, and routing options to Iberia and western France to optimize lead times and carrier spend.

Verify WMS functionality, real-time inventory visibility, barcode scanning and EDI/API integrations with marketplaces and carriers. Confirm capabilities for pick-and-pack, batch processing, returns handling, kitting, and any temperature-control or compliance certifications required by your SKUs.

Compare occupancy costs (rent, utilities), labor rates and availability, handling productivity metrics and seasonal hiring flexibility. Charente often offers lower fixed costs and predictable labor pools, but teams must quantify trade-offs in distribution radius and potential incremental transport spend to major consumer markets.

Confirm contracted carrier partners, scheduled daily pickups, parcel and LTL lane coverage, transit time SLAs to key destinations, peak-season capacity commitments, and the 3PL’s ability to support label and tracking integrations. Also validate cross-dock and consolidation options to minimize empty miles.