Prioritize location relative to key lanes and ports, WMS capability and API connectivity, dock and racking density, labor scalability, and measurable SLAs (order accuracy, OTIF, cut‑off times). Validate peak‑season staffing plans and returns handling to control landed cost and improve customer experience.

Proximity to ports and major highways reduces first/last mile mileage and carrier cost; near‑port warehousing shortens lead times for LCL/FCL; access to intermodal links enables flexible routing that can lower expedited freight spend and improve predictability for B2B deliveries.

Require WMS with real‑time inventory, robust API/EDI for order sync, and reporting for cycle counts. Key SLAs include order accuracy, pick‑lead time, OTIF, inventory accuracy, and exception response times. Ensure data exchange supports your OMS and marketplace platforms.

Compare receiving and putaway fees, storage (by pallet, bin, or per‑cubic‑meter), pick/pack rates, packing materials, returns processing, minimums, handling for oversized SKUs, and surcharge policies (fuel, seasonal labor). Model cost per order at different volume tiers to assess scalability.