Prioritize order accuracy, dock-to-stock and pick-cycle throughput, on-time shipment rates, and average order lead time. Also evaluate WMS/API integrations, SLA terms, berth and loading capacity, peak-season scalability, and visibility/reporting to ensure the 3PL can meet your service-level and inventory velocity needs.

Location affects drayage to ports and airports, fuel and mileage costs for last-mile routes, and the balance between central storage versus regional nodes. Shorter transit times from Florence can reduce inventory holding and expedite replenishment, enabling selection of standard parcel carriers or regional LTL networks depending on service and cost trade-offs.

Confirm presence of dedicated climate-controlled zones, continuous temperature monitoring, calibrated refrigeration equipment, segregation for regulated goods, and documentation for traceability. For pharma or food, verify applicable certifications (GDP, HACCP) and validated handling procedures, plus contingency plans for power outages and cold-chain breaches.