Prioritize road connectivity to major corridors, on-site cross-dock capacity, bonded and cold-chain storage if needed, and multi-carrier integration for freight consolidation. Also assess WMS/TMS interoperability, SLA commitments (OTD, accuracy), and regional handling experience to minimize lead times and duty/tariff friction.

Costs are driven by storage density (m2 pallet vs. bulk), labor intensity (pick-and-pack vs. bulk handling), value‑added services (kitting, returns), and freight lane economics. Expect a mix of monthly storage fees, per‑order fulfillment charges, and separate transport/last‑mile rates; negotiate minimum volumes and performance-based rebates to control total cost-to-serve.

Require clear KPIs: order accuracy, pick/pack throughput, inventory accuracy, on-time dispatch, and shrinkage rates. Define onboarding milestones for systems integration, EDI/WMS connectivity, test orders, and capacity ramp. Include SLA remedies, reporting cadence, and escalation paths in the contract.

Yes—many providers offer modular service stacks that include temperature-controlled zones, bonded storage for export paperwork, and returns processing. Validate temperature ranges, monitoring, HACCP or equivalent controls, customs facilitation, and returns workflows during site visits and in contract SOWs.