Prioritize a modern WMS with API connectivity to your OMS, real-time inventory visibility, and support for barcode/RFID. Assess automation level for picking/packing, cold-chain capabilities if needed, integrated returns processing, and documentation/capacity for customs clearance to ensure cross-border reliability.

From Maribor, same-day or next-day deliveries to nearby Austrian and Hungarian regions are common; 24–72 hour ground windows to much of Central Europe are typical depending on lanes. Rail and intermodal services plus multiple regional carriers give flexible routing and consolidation options for predictable lead times.

Compare industrial rent and labor rates, local carrier tariffs, drayage and intermodal fees, inventory carrying costs driven by transit frequency, and value-added service pricing. Factor in potential savings from shorter drayage, lower facility costs, and the trade-off of fewer direct international flights or ocean options versus larger hubs.

Look for documented surge staffing plans, temporary storage options, flexible slotting and cross-dock capacity, SLA guarantees, and evidence of past seasonal performance. Verify access to contingency carriers, ability to scale pick/pack resources, and WMS features for dynamic slotting and rapid order reprioritization.