Prioritize clear height and racking density, number of dock doors and staging capacity, temperature-control and bonded options if needed, WMS functionality with EDI/API, SLA and KPI reporting, turnaround times for pick-and-pack, and local labor reliability. Verify scalability for peak seasons and value-added services such as kitting, returns processing, and labeling.

A site in Bolu benefits from immediate access to the TEM and D-100 corridors, which shortens highway transit to Istanbul and central Anatolia versus inland alternatives. This improves carrier density and enables more frequent routing windows for national carriers, reducing lead times and enabling same- or next-day regional distribution when paired with optimized dock scheduling.

3PLs in the region typically offer ambient and temperature-controlled storage, bonded facilities where required, cross-docking, discrete and batch picking, kitting and light assembly, returns management, and labelling/serialization services. Confirm WMS capabilities for order allocation, lot and batch tracking, and integration with marketplaces and carrier platforms.

Model fixed fees (rent per sqm, minimum throughput), variable handling rates (inbound receiving, pick-and-pack, packing), storage density and volumetric pricing, labor-related surge costs, inbound/outbound transportation, system integration expenses, inventory carrying costs, and seasonal surcharges. Ensure total cost-to-serve is modeled by SKU and channel.

A typical onboarding runs 8–12 weeks: discovery and design, SLA and contract finalization, WMS integration and mapping, physical setup and slotting, staff training, and phased test shipments. Mitigate risk with parallel picking, defined cutover criteria, and pre-live KPIs for accuracy and throughput.