Prioritize on‑time dispatch, order cycle time, pick/pack accuracy, SKU throughput, and dock-to-delivery lead times. Confirm SLA penalties, peak‑season capacity guarantees, carrier mix, returns turnaround, and real‑time visibility via WMS/TMS integrations to ensure operational alignment with customer expectations.

Closer proximity reduces drayage, shorter inland transit, and lowers inventory-in-transit days, which decreases working capital. It enables cost‑efficient hub-and-spoke routing for regional distribution and simplifies export clearance workflows, improving predictability for both international and domestic lanes.

Require a modern WMS with API connectivity, EDI/TMS links, carrier rate-shopping, and real‑time order/status dashboards. Look for support for multi‑SKU batching, returns management, lot/batch traceability, and electronic proof of delivery to streamline omnichannel fulfillment.

Seek cross‑dock capacity, temporary surge storage, flexible labor models, automated picking for high-SKU volumes, and a structured returns processing flow. Evaluate partner ability to deploy short-term racking, contract labor scaling, and clear KPI reporting during seasonal peaks.