Evaluate multimodal connectivity to highways and rail, facility clear height and racking, mechanization and automation options, local labor pool and shift flexibility, and robust WMS/API integration. Require transparent SLA reporting, returns workflows, security, and capacity for seasonal scaling to ensure throughput and service consistency.

Model total landed cost including last-mile parcel zone pricing, transit time impacts on customer promise, inventory carrying cost and safety stock increases, labor differentials, and frequency of shipments. Run node-level scenarios to compare multi-node savings in last-mile and service levels against centralized inventory holding costs.

Require a documented onboarding plan with IT cutover (sandbox/API), SKU mapping, inventory audits, staff training, and phased go-live. Track KPIs such as order accuracy, OTIF, pick-and-pack cycle time, inventory variance, return processing time, and SLA breach response time to drive continuous improvement.