Prioritize carrier connectivity (short‑sea feeders and reliable road links), warehousing footprint (racked vs bulk), temperature control if required, customs and consolidation services, SLAs for pick/pack/ship, scalable labor availability, and IT integration for real‑time inventory and order management.

Short‑sea and ferry links to the mainland reduce transit legs and handling compared with more distant hubs, which can lower landed costs and transit variability. Consolidation opportunities and predictable feeder schedules help optimize freight rates and improve delivery predictability for regional lanes.

Expect order consolidation, kitting/light assembly, returns processing, pick‑and‑pack SLAs, temperature‑controlled storage where needed, and flexible labor scaling. Also assess customs clearance expertise and inbound consolidation to control lead times during peak seasons.

Verify facility security and inventory controls, available power and cold‑chain reliability, documented handling procedures, local licensing and customs brokerage capabilities, insurance and liability terms, and systems integration compatibility for EDI or API‑based order and inventory flows.