Focus on order accuracy, on-time shipment rate, dock-to-stock and pick-to-ship cycle times, inventory accuracy, fill rate, and lines-per-hour productivity. Also evaluate receiving throughput, chargeback history, dock availability, and WMS/API reporting to validate SLA adherence and continuous improvement capability.

Proximity to river terminals, intermodal rail, and highway networks reduces drayage and transit variability, enabling zone-skipping and consolidated inbound loads. That lowers per-unit freight and supports faster delivery windows, improving both high-velocity eCommerce and scheduled B2B replenishment.

Require a modern WMS with API/EDI connectivity, slotting optimization, barcode/RFID support, scalable racking, climate control, cross-dock capacity, and options for automation. Verify integration test plans, reporting cadence, change-order processing, and returns workflows.

Model total landed cost including storage per pallet/sqft, handling fees, inbound/outbound freight, labor rates, inventory carrying cost, and expected transit zone impacts. Run scenario analyses for seasonality, SKU velocity, and service-level requirements to quantify trade-offs.