Prioritize WMS compatibility, inventory accuracy rates, and order cycle time SLAs. Also evaluate dock capacity, staging and cross-dock capabilities, scalability of storage (racking vs bulk), and carrier integrations for road and rail. Confirm weekend/seasonal staffing, returns handling, and KPI reporting cadence before contracting.

Proximity to provincial highways and railheads lowers line-haul costs and transit variability. Shorter first-mile inbound times reduce buffer inventory; efficient outbound links and reliable LTL/FTL options compress delivery windows. Assess carrier frequency, cut-off times, and zone distribution impacts to model cost-to-serve by channel.

Negotiate clear unit rates for receiving, storage, pick-and-pack, and outbound freight handling. Define minimum throughput commitments, SLA penalties for accuracy and OTIF, inventory reconciliation cadence, and flexibility for seasonal scaling. Include clauses for technology access, data integration, and capex responsibility for specialized equipment.

Require API or EDI connectivity to your ERP, order management, and shipping platforms; daily inventory reconciliations; real-time order status and exception alerts; and configurable dashboards for KPIs like order accuracy, cycle time, and dwell. Confirm sample onboarding, data security, and SLA for support/issue resolution.