Prioritize throughput capacity, peak‑period scalability, WMS and API integration, measured SLA and OTIF performance, value‑added service capability (kitting, returns), inventory accuracy, and compliance for your product categories. Ask for live KPIs, client references, and a sample onboarding timeline.

Carrier access determines transit time variability and cost. Favor sites with direct highway access, nearby TL and LTL terminals, and strong parcel lanes. Multimodal options reduce single‑mode risk; carrier density enables rate negotiation and zonal optimization to lower landed costs.

Require a modern WMS with real‑time inventory visibility, APIs for order management and carrier rate shopping, EDI support, automated pick‑pack orchestration, and reporting dashboards. Confirm ability to handle order routing rules, returns processing, and peak throughput automation.

Model total landed cost by combining transportation, carrying cost, handling fees, and expected service failures. Run SKU‑level scenario analyses for inventory allocation, include safety stock for lead‑time variability, and pilot sample SKUs to validate assumptions before committing to large allocations.