Focus on carrier density and route coverage, SLA commitments for pick/pack and cut-off times, inventory visibility via a robust WMS, flexibility for seasonal volume, and value-added capabilities like kitting and returns. Also evaluate warehouse layout and throughput metrics to confirm their peak handling capacity.

Good multimodal access reduces reliance on long-haul trucking and can lower per‑shipment costs through consolidated rail or port feeder services. Expect shorter inland transit times to northern Italy and Austria, which improves reorder cycles and lowers safety stock requirements—key drivers of lower total landed cost.

Require a WMS with real-time inventory, API integrations for major carriers and eCommerce platforms, barcode-driven scanning for error reduction, and support for batch or wave picking. Consider options for parcel rating engines, automated label printing, and reporting dashboards for KPI transparency.

Compare landed cost components (rent, labor, transport), expected transit times to target customers, cross-dock and consolidation capabilities, SLA penalties, and scalability options. Analyze SKU velocity to determine if lower overhead in Pivka offsets any incremental transit time to core customer regions.