Focus on warehouse location relative to major routes, inventory visibility systems (WMS), SLA for order processing, labor skillset and shift flexibility, and integration with your sales channels and carriers. Also evaluate scalability, security, and any bonded or cold-storage options relevant to your SKU profile.

Compare landed cost per order by modeling storage, labor, equipment depreciation, utilities, and transportation. Include pick-and-pack labor rates, average order lines, slotting efficiency, and expected changes in transit time to customers. Use a 12-month projection to capture seasonality and peak labor surcharges.

Prioritize facilities with direct access to primary arterial roads, established local carrier partnerships, flexible cross-docking, and proof-of-delivery integrations. Evaluate yard capacity for multi-trailer handling, scheduled consolidation windows, and proximity to regional hubs for same- or next-day delivery corridors.

Require real-time WMS with API connectivity for inventory and order flows, configurable SLA reporting, returns processing and reverse-logistics workflows, and multi-channel order orchestration. Confirm support for kitting, barcode scanning, and ASN/EDI where B2B replenishment is needed.