Prioritize location relative to customer density and carrier hubs, verify WMS/TMS connectivity and inventory visibility, assess throughput and slotting for high-velocity SKUs, confirm returns handling and packaging capabilities, and negotiate clear SLAs and KPI reporting tied to cost and service.

Validate road and rail links, container handling or cross-dock capacity, dock door counts and yard depth for trailer staging, direct access to national LTL and parcel carriers, and typical transit times to your top customers to measure landed-cost impact.

Facilities in this region often offer lower rent and labor rates than major metros, which reduces fixed costs. Evaluate the trade-off between lower operating cost and network density: lower cost regions may need higher safety stock or different lane strategies to achieve metro-level delivery speeds.

Require real-time WMS integration (API/EDI), inventory sync with your eCommerce and ERP systems, carrier booking/TMS connectivity, barcode-driven workflows, and standardized exception reporting. Confirm testing windows and change-control procedures before go-live.