Prioritize inventory accuracy, scalable pick-and-pack throughput, returns processing, integrated WMS/OMS connectivity, and value-added services (kitting, labeling). Also assess carrier integrations, SLAs for order cycle time, and the 3PL's experience with your product categories and peak-season elasticity.

Cagliari's port and regional road network reduce short-sea and last-mile transit times to southern Europe and North Africa. Expect frequent RoRo and feeder services plus road lanes to mainland Italy; carriers offering multimodal solutions and consolidated shipments deliver the best balance of cost and lead time.

Ask for WMS features (lot/SKU tracking, wave picking, API connectivity), real-time inventory dashboards, and KPIs like order accuracy, on-time ship rate, pick-and-pack throughput, and inventory days on hand. Verify disaster recovery, staffing models for peak periods, and the 3PL's SLA enforcement mechanisms.

Key costs: storage per pallet/sqm, receiving and putaway, pick-and-pack per order lines, outbound freight, and returns handling. Negotiation levers include volume tiers, minimum monthly guarantees, billing frequency, pooled transport rates, and bundled value-added services to reduce per-unit charges and improve overall cost-to-serve.