Prioritize order accuracy, on-time shipping rate, dock-to-stock and pick & pack productivity, WMS interoperability and SKU storage density. Also evaluate dock capacity, racking configuration, cold-chain capability and bonded status to ensure the facility supports both eCommerce peaks and B2B replenishment cycles.

Wuhan’s multimodal access—road corridors, intermodal rail and the Yangtze river plus air freight options—allows modal optimization. Use a mix of rail for long-haul cost efficiency, air for time-sensitive goods, and regional road networks for last-mile to balance lead times and freight spend.

Require real-time WMS with robust API or EDI integrations, SKU-level visibility, cycle-count procedures, batch/lot and expiration tracking for regulated products, and native connectors to eCommerce platforms and TMS for seamless order routing and carrier rate shopping.

Model total landed cost including outbound freight, inbound replenishment, warehousing rates, inventory carrying, and labor. Compare pick rates, labor utilization and seasonal staffing costs. Factor in service-level impacts on stock buffers and penalties to choose the economically optimal location.