Prioritize transit times to core customer zones, carrier connectivity (parcel/LTL/intermodal), facility capabilities (temperature control, cross-dock, automation), workforce availability, and total cost-to-serve including landed inventory, pick/pack rates, and zone-skipping opportunities. Confirm WMS/TMS APIs for inventory visibility and SLA reporting.

Carrier proximity shortens pickup windows and enables negotiated zone-skipping and pooled distribution strategies. Access to national parcel hubs and major LTL lanes out of Rawson reduces transit days and rates; evaluate average cut-off times, pickup frequency, and on-time performance metrics when comparing 3PLs.

Require a modern WMS with APIs or EDI for order flow, real-time inventory sync, multi-warehouse support, and returns processing. Ask about EDI/API throughput, reporting dashboards, support for barcode/RFID, and integrations with your eCommerce platforms and carriers to automate fulfillment and reduce exception handling.

Onboarding generally spans 6–12 weeks: requirements capture and SLA agreement (1–2 weeks), WMS/TMS integrations and testing (2–4 weeks), physical setup and racking (2–6 weeks), and pilot orders with KPIs validation (1–2 weeks). Timelines vary by customization, SKU complexity, and lead time for equipment or certifications.