Evaluate motorway and rail access, proximity to parcel and freight hubs, intermodal options, and airport cargo links. Also assess WMS/API integrations, carrier contracts, dock and staging capacity, and local labor availability to match peak season and SLA requirements.

Kassel generally offers lower real estate and labor costs with comparable transit times to northern and eastern Germany due to central location. Expect modestly longer express transit to some southern metros, offset by lower occupancy costs and faster regional distribution.

Require EDI/API connectivity, customs and VAT support, export documentation, returns processing, and SKU-level traceability. Confirm the 3PL can handle labeling, country-of-origin rules, and carrier-specific compliance for cross-border parcel and pallet flows.

Look for transparent KPIs (OTD, inventory accuracy, picks per hour), contingency capacity, staffing surge plans, flexible lease options, WMS flexibility, real-time visibility tools, and documented SLA/penalty structures to protect throughput during peaks.