Prioritize multimodal access (road, rail, port proximity), warehouse racking and clear height for throughput, WMS/OMS compatibility, SLA and KPI definitions for pick-and-pack and returns, and the 3PL’s ability to scale labour and space seasonally. Also evaluate carrier density and transit times to primary markets.

Key cost drivers include storage cubic metres vs pallet positions, labour rates and productivity, inbound/outbound handling, cross-dock fees, and transport access. Benchmark by requesting total cost-to-serve models for representative SKUs and volumes, comparing slotting efficiency, fulfillment accuracy penalties, and freight routing assumptions.

Typical transit to Latvian domestic destinations and neighbouring Baltic capitals is same-day to 48 hours depending on routing. Cross-border to Scandinavian markets commonly ranges 24–72 hours via road and combined rail/sea options. Account for customs processing on non-EU lanes and seasonality that may extend transit windows.

Confirm real-time WMS-to-ERP/OMS connectivity, EDI or API support for orders and inventory, ASNs for inbound, and returns handling workflows. Define SLAs for order accuracy, pick-and-pack lead time, inventory reconciliation, and exception response. Consider rollout milestones and testing periods to validate integrations.