Evaluate motorway and rail access (A13/A15 and local rail terminals), frequency of line-haul services, local carrier density for last-mile, cross-dock capability, cold-chain infrastructure, and proximity to demand centers. Also review WMS/EDI integrations, SLA performance, and warehouse automation levels to ensure carrier and fulfillment alignment.

Cottbus generally offers lower industrial rents and regional labor costs compared with Berlin or Hamburg, improving cost-per-order and storage economics. Transit times to some primary markets may be slightly longer, but total landed cost often improves due to lower occupancy and handling rates; factor in cross-border freight to Poland where relevant.

Require multi-temperature storage, scalable pick-and-pack capacity, same-day cross-dock, returns processing, kitting/assembly, robust WMS with API/EDI, inventory visibility, and bonded/customs handling where needed. Clear SLAs for order accuracy, lead times, and reverse logistics are essential for omnichannel performance.