Focus on SLA commitments (order-to-delivery), warehouse capacity and ceiling height, cross-dock and drop-ship capabilities, carrier network coverage for domestic and EU lanes, WMS/EDI integration, return processing, and scalability of labor. Also evaluate security, insurance, and contingency plans for demand spikes.

Parma’s proximity to Northern industrial centers and main motorways lowers road miles and fuel cost, shortens transit time to Milan/Bologna/Genoa, and reduces LTL consolidation expenses. Lower facility rents and labor rates versus large metros also reduce fixed warehousing cost, improving per-unit landed cost.

Require a modern WMS with real-time inventory, API or EDI connectivity, carrier rate-shopping and tracking, barcode/RFID support, and returns management. Ask for reporting dashboards measuring OTIF, order accuracy, and inventory days on hand to verify operational transparency.

Onboarding often ranges 6–12 weeks: site assessment and contract (1–2 weeks), IT integration and testing (2–4 weeks), physical move and inventory set-up (2–4 weeks), and ramp to full SLA (2–6 weeks). Define milestones for inventory accuracy, pick-pack error rates, and OTIF targets to govern acceptance.