Focus on transit times to key postcodes, carrier partnerships (including ferry integrations), inventory visibility (WMS capabilities), seasonal surge capacity, and returns handling. Also evaluate lead times for replenishment from your primary suppliers and whether the 3PL supports kitting, labeling, or cold-chain if required.

Routing from Fort William can reduce transit time to Highland and island customers but may increase per-unit carrier costs for long-distance national lanes. Mitigation strategies include regional consolidation, scheduled LTL/FTL departures, and leveraging local carrier rates for last-mile island legs.

Prioritize a WMS with omnichannel order orchestration, accurate inventory segregation, cross-dock capabilities, sufficient staging for peak seasons, proof-of-delivery integrations, and the ability to execute returns and refurb workflows efficiently.

Plan for a smaller local labor pool and higher seasonal variability; include flexible labor contracts, predictable surge pricing, cross-training for seasonal hires, and buffer inventory strategies to avoid stockouts during tourist peaks and ferry schedule disruptions.