Prioritize WMS functionality and API/EDI connectivity to your OMS, SLAs for order accuracy and lead times, capacity for returns processing, scalability of storage and labor during peaks, and transparent cost-to-serve reporting to track margin impact.

Expect lower property and labor rates versus Randstad, which can reduce per-unit handling costs. Trade-offs can include fewer daily carrier departures or longer initial inbound transit; evaluate total landed cost including transport frequency and consolidation options.

The region benefits from direct access to national arterial roads and regional rail freight links that feed major ports and inland terminals, enabling efficient cross-border trucking lanes and consolidated rail/road options for Northern European distribution.

Require a cloud-based WMS with real-time inventory visibility, RESTful APIs or EDI for order flow, parcel carrier integrations, automated pick/pack workflows, and dashboards for KPIs like order cycle time, inventory turns, and shipping cost per order.

Request documented contingency plans, redundancy for critical services, SLA penalties, seasonal capacity commitments, insurance and security certifications, and evidence of disaster recovery for IT systems to reduce operational and financial exposure.