Prioritize order accuracy, throughput (pick/pack speed), returns processing, and cold-chain handling where applicable. Evaluate TMS/WMS integrations, API connectivity to marketplaces/carriers, SLA penalties, expansion capacity, and staffing flexibility to handle peak seasons and SKU proliferation.

Shanxi's expressway and rail connections reduce inland transit times and enable predictable scheduled freight to coastal ports. Strong regional carrier networks lower LTL and FTL rates; rail options can reduce cost per unit on high-density lanes while express road links improve last-mile reliability to northern industrial hubs.

Negotiate guaranteed throughput windows, minimum capacity commitments, dynamic rate tiers for peak periods, real-time WMS/TMS access, inventory reconciliation cadence, and clear liability terms for shrinkage and damage. Include ramp-up timelines and performance-based incentives tied to OTIF and order accuracy.

Key drivers: land/lease rates, labor and handling, utility and energy costs (cold chain), fuel surcharges, and carrier tariffs. Optimize by consolidating SKUs, improving forecast accuracy to reduce safety stock, negotiating volume discounts, using cross-dock for fast-moving items, and selecting locations with lower distribution overlap.