Prioritize facility footprint and dock capacity, WMS and inventory accuracy, pick‑and‑pack throughput, SLA reporting, and carrier integrations. Also evaluate inbound/outbound dock scheduling, labor flexibility for peak seasons, and capabilities for returns and kitting to support omnichannel needs.

A Tipperary location usually shortens road transit to mid‑Ireland and offers competitive drayage times to southern and eastern ports. Expect lower real estate-driven warehousing costs, which can reduce total landed cost; evaluate specific carrier lanes and scheduled departures to quantify transit-day improvements.

Confirm WMS capabilities (real‑time inventory, API integrations), barcode scanning, batch and wave picking, returns processing, and shipment tracking. Also check EDI/API connectivity for major carriers and SLA metrics for pick accuracy and same‑day/next‑day cutoffs.

Typical onboarding runs 6–12 weeks depending on complexity. Key milestones: contract and SLA finalization, WMS integration and testing, inbound ASN and pallet labeling standards, pilot inbound and pick tests, staff training, and go‑live with monitored KPIs.

Model fixed monthly fees, per‑pallet storage, slotting and seasonal surcharges, inbound and outbound handling, pick/pack by SKU complexity, packaging, returns handling, and carrier pass‑through charges. Consider inventory days on hand and service‑level penalties to assess total cost‑to‑serve accurately.