Prioritize measurable KPIs: order cycle time, fill rate, inventory accuracy, and OTIF. Confirm carrier connectivity, dock capacity, labor scalability, and access to parcel/LTL hubs. Validate pricing structure (storage, pick/pack, inbound, accessorials) and required tech integrations (WMS/API) to control total landed cost and service levels.

Local Grafton 3PLs often offer lower real estate and operating costs and faster regional transit; national providers offer broader carrier networks and standardized SLAs. Choose local partners for cost-to-serve and regional speed, or nationals for multi-node distribution and single-platform visibility—align selection with your geographic demand profile.

Key features are dock door density, cross-dock capability, staging and sorting areas, proximity to interstates and LTL terminals, on-site parcel consolidation, and rail spur access. Automation (sortation, voice/scan) and direct carrier lanes to major metros also compress handling time and improve consistency.

Require a modern WMS with real-time inventory, API or EDI connectivity for order and shipment flows, hosted dashboards for KPIs, automated cycle-count routines, and configurable alerts for exceptions. Regular reporting on fill rates, returns processing, and cost-to-serve enables continuous optimization.