Prioritise facility footprint and dock configuration, WMS integration and API support, carrier lane coverage to your customer base, and proximity to ports or freight corridors. Also evaluate labour availability, ADR or cold storage needs, scalability for peaks, and total landed-cost impact including drayage and detention.

Lower regional land and lease rates can reduce fixed warehousing cost per unit, while shorter drayage and better port access lower variable transport costs. Assess carrier frequency, multimodal options and consolidation opportunities to estimate impact on per-unit landed cost and delivery SLA.

Require a WMS with API or EDI, inventory visibility across channels, reverse logistics workflows, and options for pick-and-pack and cross-docking. Confirm reporting, SLA monitoring, and integration with your OMS and carrier partners to maintain inventory accuracy and fast return processing.

Lead times vary by lane: regional road distribution can be same-day to a few days, national LTL 2–7 days depending on destination. Export options include coastal shipping to major ports and scheduled carrier services; confirm each 3PL's carrier contracts, cutoffs and consolidation frequency to match your delivery targets.