Evaluate port berth depth and feeder frequency, A14 motorway access, rail freight connectivity and proximity to Falconara airport. Assess carrier integrations (ocean, road and air), local customs brokerage, bonded warehousing and cross-dock capacity to ensure seamless multimodal transfers and predictable lead times.

Ancona generally offers lower rents and labor costs versus northern hubs, with available mid-size warehouses suited to regional fulfillment. Trade-offs include smaller local carrier pools and fewer high-density distribution nodes; weigh unit storage rates against transit times and carrier density for your service model.

Prioritize inventory visibility (real-time WMS), pick-and-pack accuracy, order lead time guarantees, returns handling, temperature control if needed, and clear SLA penalties. Also confirm carrier integrations, EDI/API connectivity and contingency plans for peak season volumes.

Customs brokerage and bonded warehouse options reduce port dwell by enabling faster clearance and deferred duties. Coordination between ocean feeder schedules, rail windows and road carriers minimizes handoff delays; effective 3PLs provide consolidated manifests and proactive exception management to limit inbound lead-time variability.