Evaluate multimodal access (rail, road, river), actual carrier schedules and transit times, warehouse layouts for SKU velocity, available value-added services (kitting, returns, light assembly), labor skill levels and shift coverage, and integration options with your WMS/TMS and order management systems to ensure SLA alignment and accurate KPI reporting.

Pavlodar often delivers lower land and labor rates than capital-city hubs, but pricing varies with ceiling height, racking, temperature-control needs, proximity to rail terminals, throughput requirements, and seasonality. Peak labor demand and cross-border customs handling can also increase per-unit fees.

Confirm dedicated trucking lanes and carrier partners for key markets, rail service frequency and container handling, customs brokerage experience for Russia and regional exports, transit-time SLAs, and contingency routing. Visibility tools for tracking and exception management are essential for consistent customer service.

Look for WMS with API connectivity, inventory visibility across locations, configurable picking strategies, RMA/returns workflows, real-time reporting, and scalable labor and storage options. Measurable SLAs for order accuracy, picking cycle time, and on-time shipments are critical for omnichannel performance.