Prioritize order accuracy, pick-and-pack cycle time, inventory accuracy, dock-to-stock turnaround, on-time shipment percentage, chargeback incidence, and throughput during peak windows. Also verify WMS integration, EDI/API capabilities, and real-time reporting to monitor SLA adherence.

Higher carrier density lowers negotiated parcel and LTL rates and increases daily pickup frequency, reducing transit variability. Dense lanes enable optimized zonal shipping, lower base rates, and more reliable cutoffs—key to predictable cost-per-order and delivery promise for omnichannel models.

Require scalable racked storage, dedicated cross-dock bays, mezzanine capacity, flexible labor pools, surge staging areas, and WMS controls for slotting and wave planning. Confirm provider’s peak hiring plan, temporary space options, and ability to support rapid SKU velocity changes.

Negotiate transparent line-item pricing for receiving, storage tiers, pick-and-pack, outbound labeling, and returns processing. Include volume discounts, defined SLA credits, minimum usage terms, indexed rate reviews, and clear demurrage and detention rules to avoid unexpected charges.

Model demand by ZIP/region to identify transit-time and cost trade-offs. Use a hybrid approach: reserve distributed node capacity for time-sensitive SKUs and a central hub for stable, low-turn inventory. Validate carrier transit times, cross-dock options, and safety-stock impact on carrying costs.