Prioritize facility proximity to the Hokuriku Expressway and Komatsu Airport, demonstrated parcel carrier integrations, transparent slot and labor pricing, and scalable pick-and-pack technology. Confirm SLA metrics for order cycle time and claims handling, and validate local carrier rates versus national gateways.

Warehousing and land costs are generally lower than Tokyo and Osaka clusters, which enables larger buffer inventories or value-added processing on-site. Lower fixed costs allow operators to experiment with regional inventory pooling to shorten transit to Hokuriku customers while maintaining acceptable service levels to Kanto/Kansai.

Verify access to scheduled trucking lanes on the Hokuriku Expressway, capacity for air uplift via Komatsu Airport, port-handling agreements for Sea of Japan routes, and partnerships with national parcel and LTL carriers. Confirm contingency options for winter weather and seasonal demand spikes.

Evaluate WMS and OMS integrations, real-time inventory visibility, kitting and returns processing, barcode and RFID capabilities, and the provider’s experience with marketplace connectors. Ensure APIs, EDI support, and performance reporting align with your fulfillment SLA and customer experience targets.