Prioritize metrics that reflect cost and service: order accuracy, on-time shipment rate, average pick-and-pack time, inventory accuracy, dock-to-despatch lead time, and cost-per-order. Review SLA terms, penalties, and how technology (WMS/EDI) supports real-time visibility and exception handling.

Carrier density and proximity to major corridors reduce transit miles and freight rates. A 3PL with established carrier contracts and multimodal options improves routing flexibility, lowers fuel- and linehaul charges, and shortens delivery windows—directly reducing landed cost and improving predictability.

Require a modern WMS with API/EDI connectivity, real-time inventory sync, order management, tracking and returns processing. Confirm support for shipping rate shopping, barcode scanning, lot/serial tracking, and reporting dashboards to enable day-to-day operations and multi-channel visibility.

Negotiate transparent fee schedules for receiving, storage, pick-pack, and value-added services; volume-based discounts; minimums; and pass-through carrier charges. Include clear SLA definitions, charge-back rules, onboarding costs, and termination terms to avoid hidden fees and enable scalable cost-to-serve modeling.