Prioritize WMS integration, cross-dock and bonded handling, dock-door ratio, and proven customs clearance processes. Also evaluate carrier networks for regional lanes, SLA performance data, and peak‑season labor scalability to maintain transit windows and minimize delays.

Costs in Zilupe are generally lower for land and basic handling compared with capital-region hubs, but available skilled labor and specialized services may be more limited. Assess total landed cost including transport, customs, and last‑mile rates rather than rent alone.

Look for combined pick‑and‑pack for eCommerce, palletized consolidation for B2B, returns processing, kitting/assembly, real‑time inventory syncing via API, and proven routing for mixed parcel and freight carriers to support diverse order profiles.

Key metrics include number of scheduled carrier departures per week, lead times to primary export gateways, average dock-to-despatch time, multimodal connectivity (road/rail), and historical on‑time performance for cross-border lanes.