Prioritize carrier connectivity (road and air), WMS functionality and integration, inventory accuracy and cycle counts, SLA guarantees for pick‑and‑pack, lead times, returns handling (RMA), and the provider’s customs and cross‑border clearance experience to support regional shipping.

Transit times depend on corridor choice: Mombasa corridor has frequent container services but variable border delays; Dar es Salaam provides an alternative for southern routes. Entebbe air cargo shortens lead times for high‑value goods. Reliability hinges on carrier density, border efficiency, and scheduled departures rather than distance alone.

Key cost drivers include storage rates (per pallet or sqm), inbound handling and putaway, pick‑pack fees, labor rates and productivity, utility and security charges, value‑added service fees (kitting/assembly), and customs duties or bonded storage fees that affect landed cost.

Confirm the 3PL’s bonded warehouse licensing, customs brokerage capabilities, documentation handling (manifests, certificates), experience with East African Community (EAC) procedures, VAT and duty treatment, and systems for audit trails to ensure timely clearance and mitigate regulatory risk.