• Port/ICD proximity to reduce drayage and transit time
• Rail and highway connectivity for consistent lead times
• Bonded warehousing and customs facilitation for export/import flows
• WMS integration, automation and capacity scalability for peak periods

Closer ports and multimodal options reduce drayage, enable container consolidation and offer coastal shipping alternatives that lower total freight spend. Improved rail and highway links shorten transit times to Mumbai, central India and northern corridors, increasing routing options and improving on-time performance for exporters and domestic distributors.

• Bonded and customs-cleared storage for import/export inventory
• Pick-and-pack, kitting, labeling and subscription-fulfillment services
• WMS with carrier integrations and real-time inventory visibility
• Reverse logistics and returns processing for omnichannel flows

Evaluate all cost components—storage, handling, pick/pack, inbound/outbound freight, drayage, customs clearance and demurrage—against SLA commitments. Request sample route rates, audit carrier contracts, validate access to local trucking pools and test TAT with pilot volumes to model true landed cost over seasonal cycles.

Confirm the 3PL’s bonded warehouse licenses, SEZ/FTWZ access, and customs-clearance processes. Ensure electronic documentation and WMS integration for GST and export records, validate experience with export compliance, and require defined procedures for duty deferment, examination and bonded stock reconciliation.