Evaluate coastal and road access (port proximity, corridor connectivity), warehousing types (racked, bonded, temperature-controlled), throughput capacity, SLAs for order cycle times, warehouse management system compatibility, labor skill and shift coverage, and total landed cost including local handling and cross-border fees.

Prioritize WMS-driven pick-and-pack workflows, SKU-level inventory visibility, scalable racked storage, segregation for temperature-sensitive SKUs, secure bonded areas for import/export, and space for value-added services like kitting and returns processing.

Port adjacency and multiple trucking lanes reduce dray and inland transit time, enabling more frequent sailing and consolidation schedules. Better carrier choices lower spot rates and improve reliability, directly reducing dwell time, demurrage risk and overall landed cost.

Require real-time WMS/API or EDI connectivity, daily inventory reconciliation, standard KPIs (OTIF, inventory accuracy, order cycle time), defined SLA remedies, onboarding timelines, and support for peak scalability to maintain predictable delivery and accurate forecasting.