Prioritize proximity to major road corridors, dock and trailer capacity, available racking and batch picking capabilities, demonstrated carrier relationships, and technology compatibility (WMS/API). Also evaluate scalability for peak seasons, SLA terms for order accuracy and lead times, and value-added services such as kitting or returns handling.

Assess 3PLs on customs clearance experience, bonded storage options, and established broker relationships. Confirm documented procedures for paperwork, transit times, and duty optimization. If necessary, select providers offering bonded warehousing or assisted documentation to reduce dwell time and mitigate compliance risk.

Review inbound/outbound freight access and tariffs, dock and handling rates, pick-and-pack pricing by SKU profile, inventory carrying costs, minimum monthly charges, and chargebacks for seasonal surges. Also factor in technology fees, cross-dock or transload charges, and penalties for SLA misses to get total landed warehousing cost.

Look for WMS with real-time inventory sync, API or EDI connectivity for orders/carrier tracking, configurable reporting on inventory turns and order cycle times, and tools for returns processing. If needed, require test sandboxes and documented SLAs for data accuracy and uptime to ensure seamless omnichannel order flows.