Assess port proximity, highway and rail links, and direct carrier integrations for parcel and pallet networks. Evaluate dock capacity, cross-dock capabilities, and bonded storage if international shipments are involved. Consider SLA uptime, peak-season scalability, and regional carrier lane performance measurements.

Toyama typically offers lower land and facility rental rates versus Tokyo or Osaka, enabling larger footprints and value-added processing. Lower fixed costs can improve cost-to-serve, but factor in last-mile transit times and multi-hub network design to balance customer transit expectations.

Prioritize providers with WMS integration, real-time inventory synchronization, multiple picking strategies (batch, zone, wave), returns handling, and cross-docking. Confirm EDI/API connectivity to marketplaces and carriers, SLA targets for pick/pack, and error rate reporting for continuous improvement.

Local governments may offer subsidies, tax incentives, or fast-track approvals for logistics investment. Review regional industrial park programs and energy or land-use incentives, and assess customs or bonded warehouse options for import-oriented operations.

Require on-time shipment rate, order accuracy, inventory variance, dock-to-stock cycle time, and cost-per-order. Include scalability metrics for peak volume handling, SLA adherence during seasonality, and transparent reporting cadence with root-cause analysis for exceptions.