Prioritise transit times to key customer corridors, carrier and pallet network connectivity, WMS integrations with marketplaces/ERP, pick accuracy and returns processing. Also validate available footprint for seasonal volumes, SLA terms, labour reliability and visibility tools to manage inventory and customer expectations.

A regional 3PL can reduce land‑haul to major highways, improving line‑haul efficiency to capital cities and enabling consolidation to lower per‑unit freight. Expect tradeoffs: longer local last‑mile to metro end customers versus savings on space and handling; evaluate carrier lanes and pooled distribution options.

Key capabilities include multiple dock doors and cross‑dock areas, racked storage and bulk handling, temperature control if needed, scalable pick/pack stations, returns processing, and a modern WMS with API connectivity. Security, forklift fleet and flexible shift patterns are also critical for B2B SLAs.

Negotiate clear KPIs: OTIF, pick accuracy, inventory accuracy and lead times, plus chargeable activities and minimums. Require transparent invoicing, cadence for audit access, penalties or remediation for SLA breaches, and defined exit/transition terms to limit operational disruption.