Prioritize regional coverage relative to your customer base, transit times to key lanes, and proximity to ports or intermodal terminals. Evaluate WMS/API integration, SLA metrics (pick accuracy, on-time shipments), cross-dock capacity, returns handling, and labor/automation mix to ensure scalability and consistent unit economics.

Close proximity to deepwater ports and intermodal rail reduces dray and transfer times, lowering landed cost and variability. Strong carrier density (parcel hubs, LTL/FTL networks) enables diversified routing, more reliable cutoffs, and lower last-mile costs — all of which improve delivery predictability and reduce buffer inventory needs.

Require real-time WMS/API access, inventory accuracy guarantees, SLA definitions for pick/pack/ship, KPIs for on-time-in-full and order cycle time, transparent billing (per-pick, storage, receiving), and clear terms for seasonal surges, chargebacks, and returns processing to align incentives and control total landed cost.