Prioritize dock and yard access, WMS and API integration, measured SLAs for pick/pack/ship, scalable storage density, and workforce skill availability. Evaluate carrier relationships for regional lanes and the 3PL’s contingency plans for seasonal or monsoon-related disruptions.

Closer access to major highways and consolidation points shortens last-mile transit, enables higher load consolidation, and lowers per-unit freight. Good carrier coverage reduces expedited shipments and improves lead-time predictability for both retail and wholesale customers.

Negotiate storage density rates, tiered handling fees tied to throughput, bundled inbound/outbound services, short-term flex space for seasonality, and performance-based SLAs. Clear billing definitions for pick types and returns also reduce unexpected charges.

Assess real-time inventory synchronization, multi-channel order routing logic, reverse logistics and returns processing capacity, and availability of pick-and-pack automation or batching strategies. Verify API capabilities for storefront and carrier integrations and sample SLA performance data.