Prioritize SLA track record for picking and shipping, warehouse slotting and racking that match your SKU profile, technology compatibility (WMS/APIs), capacity flexibility for peaks, and visibility into inbound receiving and dock scheduling to avoid demurrage and late shipments.

Carrier density and multimodal links directly affect lead times and freight rates. 3PLs with strong LTL, parcel, and regional carrier contracts reduce transit variability and allow better zone-based pricing, while road-rail or port access can lower long-haul costs for bulk replenishment.

Key features include dedicated pick/pack zones, scalable racking, integrated returns streams with quarantine and inspection, omnichannel order routing logic in the WMS, and real-time inventory sync to prevent overselling across channels.

Compare storage rate structures (per pallet vs. per cubic meter), minimums, handling fees for receiving and pick/pack, chargebacks for noncompliance, billing cadence, and service-level penalties. Request modeling for seasonality and peak surcharges to reveal true cost-to-serve.