Prioritize on-time pick/pack rates, order accuracy, inventory turnover, and average in‑warehouse dwell time. Also evaluate WMS/TMS integrations, multi-channel routing rules, returns processing capability, and scalable labor plans to handle peak volumes while maintaining SLAs.

Proximity to ports and interstates reduces drayage and line‑haul spend, lowering landed cost. Access to larger labor pools improves shift coverage and labor flexibility, while closer last‑mile distances reduce transit times and carrier charges—directly improving delivery performance and customer experience.

Ensure the 3PL supports API-based inventory and order sync, event-level shipment tracking, EDI or modern webhooks, and configurable reporting dashboards. Real-time inventory accuracy, exception alerts, and SLA dashboards are critical for proactive management and continuous improvement.