Focus on measurable SLAs and infrastructure: on-time ship rate, pick accuracy, order cycle time, dock door availability, and throughput (lines/hour). Verify WMS/API integration, real-time inventory visibility, reverse-logistics capability, and capacity plans for peak periods. Include audit rights and penalty/bonus clauses in the contract to align performance incentives.

Location drives carrier choice and transit windows: proximity to highways, regional hubs, and ports reduces fuel and linehaul costs and lowers last-mile transit times. Warehouses near carrier terminals increase routing flexibility and can reduce LTL premiums; sites further from hubs may require consolidations that raise handling cost and lead times.

Model all variable and fixed components: pallet storage per month, inbound receiving charges, pick-and-pack fees per unit/line, handling for oversized items, packaging and kitting, returns processing, minimum monthly charges, slotting fees, and IT/integration or EDI costs. Factor labor surcharges and seasonal rate adjustments to estimate true landed fulfillment cost.

Request live WMS demos and API documentation, review sample KPI dashboards and monthly reports, inspect security and compliance certificates (e.g., SOC/ISO where applicable), tour the facility to observe racking and dock operations, and obtain client references with similar SKU velocity to confirm scalability and service consistency.