Evaluate transit time to core customer clusters, cross-dock and pick-and-pack throughput, inventory visibility (WMS capability), outbound carrier integrations, and local labor skill availability. Consider slotting strategies, reverse logistics capacity, and SLA guarantees for order cutoffs and same/next-day options.

Proximity to major trunk roads and consolidators reduces multi-stop trucking costs and dwell time. Lower land and operating costs can reduce per-SKU storage charges, but balance this against longer last-mile kilometers and fuel costs for remote customers to find the optimal total landed cost.

Require a modern WMS with inventory sync across channels, integrations for marketplace and ERP connectivity, barcode/RFID scanning, returns processing, and reporting. Also confirm pick accuracy metrics, scalable labor pools, and contingency plans for seasonal peaks.

Assess temperature control reliability, backup power and generator uptime, validation and monitoring systems, local service availability for refrigeration maintenance, and documented SOPs for product integrity. Verify insurance coverage and incident response protocols.

Negotiate transparent fee schedules (storage, handling, pick/pack, inbound/outbound), minimums, and volume tiers. Define KPIs: order accuracy, on-time dispatch, inventory accuracy, dock-to-stock time, and chargeback policies. Include review cadence and exit terms to manage scale-up or change of providers.