Focus on transit times to primary customer clusters, average order cycle time, on-time and accuracy SLAs, inventory visibility (WMS reporting/APIs), and carrier access. Also evaluate value‑added services (kitting, returns), peak capacity plans, and the 3PL’s cost-to-serve transparency to model landed cost versus service gains.

Heze generally offers lower land and labor costs than major coastal hubs, with modern inland infrastructure that reduces occupancy and handling expenses. Finance teams should run cost-to-serve models including storage, pick/pack, handling, inbound/outbound transport, and variance for seasonality to compare total supply chain costs, not just unit warehousing rates.

Prioritize centralized returns processing, multi-SKU kitting, label and packaging customization, inspection and rework, and seamless marketplace/ERP/WMS integrations. Reliable API connectivity, EDI, and reporting are critical to maintain inventory accuracy and to automate order routing across channels.

Assess distance to main expressways, access to regional rail terminals, typical trucking lane frequencies, and consolidation opportunities. Evaluate carrier partners’ schedules to ports, cross-dock capabilities, and local congestion patterns to design lanes that lower transit variability and enable consistent lead times.