Assess multimodal connectivity (highway, rail, port access), dock and staging capacity, racking density, labor availability and cost, technology and WMS/API capabilities, insurance and compliance, and the provider’s experience with your product profile (e.g., returns or temperature control). Prioritize measurable KPIs like order cycle time and dock throughput when comparing providers.

Primary cost drivers include outbound carrier rates, cross‑dock and handling fees, storage density (cost per pallet position vs throughput), labor shift premiums, and value‑add service charges (kitting, returns processing). Proximity to customers and modal choices (road vs rail vs short sea) directly affect freight spend and transit time.

Request empirical metrics: average transit times to key markets, on‑time delivery rates, first‑time delivery success, and distribution center cut‑off times. Model inventory days‑of‑supply required for target service levels and ask for historical carrier lane performance and contingency routing plans for peak seasons.

Require real‑time WMS integrations (API/EDI) for order, inventory, and shipment status, EDI/ASN support for B2B flows, and defined SLAs for order accuracy, fill rate, and lead times. Include penalty or remediation clauses for repeated SLA breaches and define onboarding milestones for systems testing and parallel runs.