Prioritize transit times to customer clusters, carrier access and density, SLA performance, cross‑dock and throughput capacity, WMS and API integrations, returns processing, and bonded/customs capabilities. Evaluate peak season scalability, slotting efficiency and transparent reporting to align cost per pick with delivery speed targets.

Placement influences road miles, driver time and last‑mile rates. Urban or inner‑M25 DCs lower delivery SLAs and fuel costs for dense business clusters, while outer‑M25 parks offer lower rent and better large‑truck access. Use demand density and lane cost models to balance warehousing rent versus recurring transport spend.

Require a modern WMS with real‑time inventory, OMS integration, open APIs/EDI, event‑level tracking, returns management and analytics. Look for inventory resynchronization, multi‑warehouse order orchestration and partner integrations (marketplaces, carriers) to automate routing and reduce errors.

Model total landed cost: compare rent and handling rates versus increased transport and last‑mile expenses. Consider order density, SKU velocity and delivery SLAs; central sites reduce delivery miles but raise unit storage cost, while outer parks benefit high‑volume, low‑time‑sensitivity inventory. Pilot throughput and measure real‑world carrier costs before long‑term commitments.