Prioritize on-time pickup/delivery, order accuracy, inventory accuracy, average order cycle time, and throughput. Assess facility capabilities: ambient and cold storage, cross-dock capacity, bonded status, security, and reverse-logistics handling. Confirm WMS integration, real-time inventory visibility and SLA reporting to measure performance against cost-to-serve targets.

Bonded warehousing can defer duties and enable consolidation before customs clearance, reducing landed costs and smoothing cash flow. Local 3PL expertise in documentation, pre-clearance and customs classification shortens release times. However, benefits depend on correct use of bonded status, accurate HS codes, and the 3PL’s relationships with customs brokers.

Road freight provides primary regional reach to Turkey and EU border crossings; scheduled trucking and cross-dock services optimize lead times. Rail links support bulk or intermodal moves where available. Air via Kutaisi International Airport accelerates high-value or time-sensitive freight. Access to parcel network partners and LTL carriers is essential for eCommerce last-mile delivery.

Negotiate clear SLAs with penalty/bonus structures, transparent variable vs fixed fee breakdowns, slotting and storage rate tiers, minimum volume commitments, and billing cadence. Include definitions for chargebacks, fuel surcharges, onboarding and technology fees. Request performance reporting and escalation clauses to align incentives on service and efficiency.