Evaluate proximity to major highways and rail, on-site cross-dock capacity, dock-door count, and yard space. Assess carrier connectivity, available parcel and LTL integrations, average transit times to core customer clusters, and the 3PL's carrier-neutral routing capability to manage costs and SLAs.

Industrial rents and wages are often lower than in primary metro cores, improving per-unit handling costs. Expect trade-offs: smaller labor pools that can be mitigated with flexible staffing agreements, automation, and cross-training. Factor vacancy rates and seasonal labor availability into cost models.

Mandate real-time inventory visibility (WMS/API), order acknowledgment and cut-off SLAs, agreed pick/pack accuracy, on-time dispatch rates, returns turnaround, and chargeback rules. Consider KPIs such as inventory accuracy, order cycle time, ASN compliance, and cost-per-order.

Balance centralized vs distributed inventory to optimize shipping costs and delivery times. Prioritize 3PLs offering integrated returns management, store replenishment, and ship-from-store capabilities. Evaluate last-mile partners, inventory segmentation for faster SKUs, and the 3PL's ability to scale for peak demand.