Prioritize highway links to trans‑Caucasus routes, proximity to Erzurum Airport and rail terminals, bonded warehousing options, density of local courier networks for last‑mile, and established cross‑border trucking lanes. Also verify the 3PL's carrier partnerships, transit time commitments, and ability to scale capacity during peaks.

Erzurum typically offers lower real estate and wage rates, reducing fixed and operating costs. Tradeoffs include a smaller local labor pool and longer transit distances to western coastal markets. Assess whether savings on opex offset any incremental transit time or outbound carrier costs for your SKU mix and service promises.

Confirm real‑time WMS/TMS integration, pick‑and‑pack accuracy, returns processing, kitting and value‑add services, cold‑chain handling if needed, and SLA metrics for order lead time and accuracy. Also verify peak‑season scalability, inventory visibility tools, and testing of carrier handoffs.

Yes—many operators support cross‑border flows. Confirm bonded storage availability, customs broker partnerships, capability to handle transit declarations and carnet or temporary import processes, accuracy of export documentation, and experience with regional regulatory requirements to avoid delays at border crossings.