Assess port proximity, major highways (Egnatia Odos), rail links and nearby airfreight gateways. Evaluate carrier partnerships for domestic and cross-border lanes, container handling capacity, terminal operating hours, and availability of pooled distribution and intermodal services to match your lead-time and cost objectives.

Lower industrial rents and competitive labor rates reduce per-order costs and total landed cost versus many Western EU locations. Also consider workforce skill for value-added tasks (kitting, QC) and peak-season scalability; these directly affect unit economics and service-level flexibility.

Require real-time WMS/TMS integrations, inventory visibility across nodes, returns processing, temperature-controlled storage if needed, and freight consolidation. Consider SLA reporting, EDI/API connectivity for marketplaces and OMS synchronization to enable accurate cutoffs and split-shipment handling.

Confirm the provider's customs brokerage capabilities, classification and duty optimization practices, bonded warehousing options and experience with transit to Balkan and EU destinations. Clear documentation, transit permits and consolidated freight solutions reduce delays and unexpected tariffs.