Evaluate facility footprint and racking density, number and configuration of dock doors, cross‑dock and sorting capacity, cold storage if needed, WMS functionality and API/EDI connectivity, carrier lane access and SLA definitions. Also model cost‑to‑serve (storage, pick/pack, domain-specific fees) and expected throughput to validate pricing against service targets.

Caboolture’s location on major north–south arteries shortens road miles to northern suburbs and coastal markets while offering efficient road connections into Brisbane and to the Port of Brisbane. That reduces last‑mile transit time variability and parcel zone spreads, improving carrier costings and enabling denser route consolidation for eCommerce distributions.

Expect flexible options: some 3PLs accept low monthly SKUs with per‑pick pricing, while others require minimum pallet or transaction volumes for negotiated rates. Typical contracts include onboarding/set‑up fees, SLA penalties, minimum inventory days and notice periods for seasonal labour. Negotiate demonstrable KPIs for accuracy, on‑time dispatch and lead times.

Require a WMS with real‑time inventory sync and open APIs or EDI for orders, shipping and returns. Essential features include barcode scanning, batch/lot tracking, carrier rate shopping, automated shipping label generation, exception alerts, and dashboards for inventory aging, order cycle times and cost‑to‑serve analytics to support continuous optimization.