Prioritize transport connectivity (rail/highway proximity), dock and staging capacity, ceiling height and racking, labor skill levels and shift flexibility, and technology (WMS, API/EDI). Also evaluate value‑add services (kitting, returns), SLA guarantees, inventory accuracy, and scalability to match peak season volumes and SKU velocity.

Jinchang generally offers lower land and labor costs and competitive operating rates versus coastal hubs, improving cost-to-serve for inland distribution. Tradeoffs include longer ocean transit for imports and fewer carrier options; however, for domestic B2B networks the lower operating base often outweighs those constraints when regional reach is the priority.

Evaluate proximity to intermodal terminals, scheduled rail departures, highway travel times to regional hubs, and first/last‑mile carrier density. Confirm consolidation cutoffs, LTL and FTL connectivity, and transit-time variability by lane. Strong carrier relationships and predictable consolidation windows reduce dwell time and improve on-time delivery.

Require a WMS with real-time inventory, API/EDI order connectivity, standardized billing and transaction-level reporting, cycle-count routines, and KPI dashboards for order accuracy and lead times. Contract clear SLAs for pick/pack, shipments, and disputes, plus transparent cost tables for storage tiers and value‑add work to avoid unexpected charges.