Prioritize real-time WMS/OMS integration and inventory visibility; proximity to parcel hubs and major highways to reduce transit time; scalable labor, automation and contingency capacity for peaks; and clear SLAs, reporting cadence and cost-per-order transparency to support financial modeling.

Model your typical lanes and volumes, request lane maps and transit-time percentiles, compare regional and national carrier contracts for LTL and parcel, and run landed-cost scenarios that include drayage and accessorials. Verify consolidation options and pickup frequency to understand real-world costs.

Require returns processing with rapid disposition workflows, omnichannel inventory synchronization for BOPIS and marketplaces, dedicated BOPIS staging and same-day pick/pack, kitting and assembly, custom labeling and packaging, and streamlined reverse-logistics procedures to minimize return-to-shelf times.

Lower-distance hauls to major carrier hubs reduce transport spend; local labor availability and wage rates shape handling costs; access to temp agencies and flexible labor pools aid seasonal scaling; and real estate pricing plus availability of automation-ready facilities determine capital and operating trade-offs for medium- and long-term growth.