Evaluate proximity to key seaports and regional air hubs, WMS/APIs for order routing, cross-dock and pick-pack throughput, and multi-temperature options. Compare lead times, minimums, receiving windows, inventory accuracy rates, and charge structures (receiving, storage, pick/pack, returns) to model true cost-to-serve by SKU.

Compare quayside depth, feeder frequency, airport cargo capacity, bonded facility availability, and road feeder links. Assess carrier integrations (courier, LTL, FTL), average berth-to-warehouse transit, dock capacity, and transshipment times to ensure service consistency across channels.

Model transport legs, lead times, safety stock uplift, and inventory carrying rates. Calculate per-order transport and handling across LTL/FTL scenarios, include duty/handling for imports, and run break-even analyses for delivery time improvements versus increased storage and operational costs.

Specify OTIF, order accuracy, pick/pack cycle time, dock-to-stock and return processing times, inventory accuracy, and dispute resolution timelines. Include explicit chargeback terms, audit rights, WMS access, data exchange frequencies, and contingency capacity clauses for peak periods.

Require surge capacity plans, alternate routing options, dual-sourcing for critical SKUs, disaster recovery for IT/WMS, cold-chain redundancy where needed, and documented incident response. Ensure visibility tools for real-time tracking and contractual remedies for extended disruptions.