Prioritize WMS compatibility, order cycle times, dock throughput, inventory accuracy, and returns processing. Review SLAs for on‑time fulfillment and exception handling, inspect carrier connectivity and last‑mile options, and validate scalability for seasonal peaks and SKU proliferation.

Location affects driving distance to consolidation points, access to ferry or coastal links, and proximity to parcel hubs—each factor drives transit time and freight rates. Choose sites that balance proximity to customers with carrier access to optimize cost-to-serve and delivery windows.

Key metrics include order accuracy, on‑time shipment rate, dock-to-stock lead time, inventory accuracy, picking speed (lines/hour), and reverse logistics turnaround. Evaluate historical performance, penalties/incentives in SLAs, and the provider’s capacity planning processes.

Inspect clear height, racking density, dock count and configuration, segregation for returns and value‑add work, HVAC or temperature control if needed, power redundancy, IT connectivity and security. Also assess labor availability, training programs and safety procedures.