Prioritize location relative to major routes and customer density, WMS capabilities and carrier integrations, dock and staging capacity, SLA accuracy and reporting, labor scalability for peaks, and available value‑added services like kitting and cold chain. Also review security, insurance, and claims processes.

Carrier integrations determine rate negotiation, manifesting efficiency in zone skipping, pallet consolidation, and delivery density. Strong regional courier relationships lower per‑parcel costs and shrink delivery windows; ensure the 3PL supports EDI/API connections for real‑time rate shopping and tracking.

Validate dock door count and layouts, racking integrity, cold‑storage temperature controls, pest‑control logs, fire and safety systems, site security, and redundancy of utilities. Confirm WMS functionality, EDI/API readiness, SLA reporting, and certifications relevant to perishables and B2B handling.

Placing inventory in Te Anau-proximate facilities shortens transit lanes and reduces freight zones and fuel surcharges. Use demand segmentation and multi-node allocation to lower expedited shipping needs, optimize duty and tax timing, and balance carrying costs versus transport savings for improved landed cost outcomes.