Prioritize proximity to major roads and customer clusters, throughput and storage type (racked, bulk, temperature control), SLA commitments for order cycle and accuracy, WMS/API integration, labor availability and productivity, security, and the provider's experience with returns and value‑added services. Compare cost‑to‑serve across SKU profiles before contracting.

Request demonstrations of the WMS, confirm available APIs for orders, inventory and shipping, verify support for EDI/JSON, review real‑time inventory accuracy metrics, ask for onboarding timelines and integration playbooks, and validate reporting, exception handling, and SLA monitoring capabilities.

Key cost drivers include storage pricing per pallet or cubic meter, labor rates and productivity, inbound/outbound handling fees, value‑added service charges, and transport tariffs. Benchmark by calculating cost‑to‑serve per SKU and aligning those costs with SLA expectations such as pick accuracy, order cycle time, and seasonal capacity needs.

Evaluate proximity to carrier hubs and transshipment points, availability of feeder trucks for rural routes, typical transit times on primary corridors, seasonal road conditions, and the 3PL's contracted carrier network and multi‑carrier dispatch options. These factors drive delivery consistency and final‑mile cost.