Prioritize carrier connectivity, cross-border customs handling, bonded and temperature-controlled options, warehouse footprint vs SKU velocity, automation and WMS integration, labor productivity, and clear SLAs for order accuracy and lead time.

Closer proximity shortens overland transit to northern markets and reduces drayage and cross-dock time, lowering landed costs. Short-sea feeder availability supports consolidated shipments to Caribbean islands and faster replenishment cycles.

Look for bonded warehousing, pre-clearance workflows, accredited customs brokers, EDI or API documentation exchange, tariff classification support, and experience managing temporary import/export regimes to minimize dwell time.

Include order accuracy, on-time shipment rate, pick-and-pack cycle time, inventory accuracy, dock-to-stock lead time, chargeback terms for errors, and scalable capacity commitments tied to seasonal demand.