Prioritize facility footprint and racking density, throughput capacity, certified handling for product types, WMS functionality and integration (API/EDI), SLA guarantees for picking/packing, returns processing, workforce scalability, and proof of established carrier relationships for last‑mile coverage.

Intermodal access (road, river, air) directly affects lead times and consolidation options. A 3PL with established carrier contracts and consolidation lanes reduces per‑unit freight cost and improves predictability, especially for shipments routed to Red Sea ports or consolidated for national distribution.

Compare rent per sqm, labor and supervision rates, utilities and security, inbound/outbound transport costs, handling fees (picking, packing, labelling), inventory carrying costs, seasonal surcharges, and any minimum throughput or storage commitments that impact unit economics.

Include KPIs for on‑time dispatch, order accuracy, dock‑to‑stock and pick‑to‑ship times, inventory reconciliation cadence, claims resolution, uptime for WMS integrations, scalability clauses for seasonal peaks, and clear penalty and remediation terms tied to measured SLA breaches.