Prioritize location relative to major corridors and customer density, WMS/API integration and data visibility, SLA performance and exception handling, scalability of space and labor, available value‑added services (kitting, returns), and carrier connectivity. Model cost‑to‑serve across peak cycles and include onboarding and IT integration timelines.

Multimodal access lets shippers optimize for cost and speed: road links shorten first/last mile, rail and inland ports reduce long‑haul and drayage spend, and proximity to cross‑border corridors improves frequency and delivery windows. The result is lower landed cost and more predictable transit times for regional distribution.

Validate warehouse management system capabilities (real‑time inventory, batch and lot control), API/EDI connectivity, automation for picking/packing, returns processing workflows, carrier integration for label generation and tracking, and reporting tools for cost and SLA analytics.

Include fixed occupancy and slotting costs, inbound handling, pick/pack labor, packaging and kitting, outbound freight and fuel surcharges, value‑added service fees, IT and integration charges, minimum monthlys and seasonal uplift, plus inventory carrying and potential penalty costs for SLA misses.

Yes. Evaluate municipal zoning for industrial use, availability of bonded or customs‑approved sites for international flows, local labor regulations and incentives for investment, and environmental permitting for cold‑chain or high‑throughput facilities. Early site and regulatory checks reduce deployment risk.