Focus on carrier connectivity (road, inland waterways, ports), WMS/API integration, SLA commitments for pick/pack and shipping, flexibility for seasonal volume, and value‑added service capabilities such as kitting and returns management. Confirm labor availability and real estate lease terms to avoid capacity risk.

Lower local land and labor costs reduce per-SKU storage and handling charges, while proximity to carriers and ports shortens transit times. Combined, these factors can materially lower landed cost and improve on-time delivery performance—especially for frequent small‑parcel shipments and time-sensitive B2B orders.

Prioritize a 3PL with a modern WMS that supports API connectivity, inventory visibility across channels, order orchestration, and return processing. Real-time inventory feeds, EDI/API for carriers, and reporting dashboards for KPIs (OTD, accuracy, dwell time) are essential for omnichannel reliability.

Evaluate proximity to major transport corridors and ports, access to regional carrier hubs, scalability of warehouse footprint, labor pool quality, and local regulatory or customs processing efficiencies. Model transit times and transport costs to core customer markets to validate network decisions.