Evaluate port draft and container handling capacity, proximity to the A1/A25 highway network, rail terminal frequency, and last‑mile carrier coverage. Check on-dock or near-dock warehousing, bonded status if needed, and availability of cross-dock services to reduce handling and transit time.

Aveiro generally offers lower land and rack-rent than Lisbon or Porto, with competitive labor costs and a growing skilled logistics workforce. Expect savings on occupancy and handling; confirm local labor seasonality, overtime rates, and recruitment pipelines with prospective 3PLs.

Require integrated contracts with national parcel networks, regional couriers, and freight carriers; transparent LTL and FTL options; SLA for cut-off times, returns handling and peak capacity; plus track-and-trace integration for omnichannel visibility and consistent customer experience.

Prioritize inventory accuracy, order cycle time, OTIF, pick rate per hour, dock-to-stock lead time, and return processing speed. Technology should include real-time WMS integration, API connectivity to marketplaces/carriers, scalable labor management, and analytics for cost-to-serve.