Prioritize location relative to demand, transit-time variability, and carrier pickup windows. Validate WMS/API integration, inventory visibility, minimum throughput requirements, value‑add capabilities (kitting, returns), and staffing scalability for peak periods.

Include landed freight rates, zone-based parcel pricing, pallet carrier costs, pick-and-pack labor, inventory carrying costs, and order profile (SKU mix, order size). Factor in returns processing and any value‑add fees to calculate true cost-to-serve per channel.

Assess national parcel carrier presence, regional feeder and LTL partners, scheduled pickup cutoffs, consolidation points and transit frequency. Also validate the 3PL's SLA for on-time handoffs and contingency routing for seasonal variability.

Require a modern WMS with real-time inventory, API/EDI order flows, barcode scanning, lot/batch tracking where needed, secure storage, and documented picking/slotting standards. Confirm reporting, exception workflows, and audit trails for reconciliation.

Negotiate flexible capacity windows, clear pricing tiers for volume and peak, SLAs for order accuracy and transit times, KPIs with remediation clauses, onboarding timelines, and transparent inventory reconciliation and liability terms.