Evaluate proximity to primary highways and intermodal terminals, regular lane coverage from regional carriers, transit-time estimates to target markets, and customs handling capabilities. Also confirm local carrier partnerships for last-mile delivery, cross-dock availability to reduce handling, and contingency routing for seasonal volume spikes.

Key drivers include rent per sqm, labor rates and productivity, pick density, and available automation. Lower land and labor costs can reduce base storage and handling fees, but pick complexity, SKU mix, and value-added services (kitting, returns) will determine final per-order pricing.

Require a modern WMS with real-time inventory, APIs or EDI for OMS/ERP integration, support for marketplace connectors, barcode-driven processes, returns management, and reporting dashboards. Also confirm SLA monitoring, cycle-count procedures, and exception workflows for accurate omnichannel fulfillment.

Define order accuracy, on-time shipment rate, average order lead time, inventory reconciliation frequency, shrinkage thresholds, and cut-off times. Include escalation paths, penalties for missed SLAs, change-order lead times, and review cadence for capacity planning and seasonal adjustments.