Prioritize direct rail access or close rail terminals, proximity to the E65/E80 corridor, reliable last-mile road connections to the Port of Bar, adequate dock doors, yard space for trailers, and a 3PL with demonstrated customs handling and WMS integration to enable smooth multimodal transfers and reduced dwell time.

Lower inland transit to port and rail nodes, reduced congestion, and shorter cross-border road stints can cut freight spend and lead times. Evaluate lane-specific freight rates, border clearance times, carrier density, and the 3PL’s consolidation capabilities to quantify landed-cost and delivery-window improvements.

Require OTIF, order cycle time, pick-and-pack accuracy, inventory accuracy, return-processing metrics, SLA penalties, real-time WMS visibility, EDI/API connectivity, and proof-of-delivery tracking. Those KPIs and integrations are essential for omnichannel consistency and scalable operations.

Prioritize clear height and pallet positions for scalable racking, floor load capacity, dock and trailer access, power and HVAC for temperature control if needed, secure yards for staging, expansion options, labor availability, and contractual flexibility for volume swings and service-level adjustments.