Require clear SLAs for order cycle time, OTIF, dock-to-stock velocity, inventory accuracy, and cost-per-order. Ask for historical KPI reports, peak-season performance evidence, disaster recovery plans, and SLA remedies tied to chargebacks or credits.

Closer port adjacency reduces drayage, port dwell and inland transit time, lowering landed cost and inventory days. Multimodal access (rail, road, ferry) provides routing flexibility, contingency options during congestion, and improved transit-time consistency for scheduled shipments.

Expect bonded and fiscal warehousing, in-house customs brokerage, tariff classification support, temporary storage for inspection, and export documentation services. These capabilities shorten clearance timelines and reduce on-dock storage fees for importers/exporters.

Look for WMS with API/EDI connectivity to your OMS and marketplaces, real-time inventory sync, lot and serial tracking, barcode-directed picking, support for multiple packing profiles, automated shipping-labeling, and a returns portal with RMA workflow.

Compare line items: inbound receiving, storage (by pallet/cbm/day), pick-and-pack (per-order and per-line), packaging, outbound transport, returns handling, and monthly minimums. Model your SKU mix, order profile, and seasonality to estimate blended cost-per-order, then include duty, VAT, and carrier surcharges for cross-border scenarios.