Evaluate port proximity and feeder frequency, bonded storage availability, temperature-controlled capacity, and WMS/APIs for visibility. Verify SLA cut-off times, pick/pack throughput, claims history, and contingency planning for weather or carrier delays. Compare labor productivity and utility costs to estimate true cost-per-order.

Request historical KPIs: order accuracy, on-time shipment rate, cycle time, inventory reconciliation cadence, and claims frequency. Examine SLA definitions, penalty clauses, reporting samples, and references from similar clients. Validate systems integration and real-time visibility to ensure SLA compliance and scalable performance.

Prioritize warehouses with direct port access to reduce drayage and handling; use bonded facilities to defer duties; optimize palletization and cube utilization to lower freight density charges; negotiate bundled handling-plus-freight rates; and implement inventory placement to reduce cross-island moves and improve fulfillment speed.