Focus on WMS compatibility and API support, dock and dock-door capacity, average pick-and-pack throughput, inventory accuracy SLAs, and ability to scale labor and storage quickly. Also review carrier integrations, lead times to primary markets, and visibility tools for real-time inventory and order tracking.

Close highway interchanges and rail links reduce long-haul truck miles and transit time, lowering fuel and labor costs. Dense express carrier presence improves last-mile rates and service options; choose 3PLs with negotiated carrier contracts and consolidated inbound flows to optimize landed cost.

Require a cloud WMS with real-time inventory visibility, order orchestration for split-shipments, batch processing for high-volume promotions, reverse logistics and returns handling, and integration with marketplaces and ERP systems for seamless order flow.

Assess distance and transit time to key customers, dock-door density per SKU velocity, cost per pallet position and per pick, labor availability and wage trends, utility and property taxes, and average carrier tender-to-delivery windows to quantify total cost-to-serve.