Prioritize road access to major corridors, yard capacity for trailers, racking and mezzanine flexibility, reliable power and utilities, and a proven WMS with API connectivity. Also review receiving throughput, pick-pack accuracy metrics, security protocols, and expansion options that match projected volumes.

Warehouse location determines transit distance to primary consumer markets and affects carrier routing. Facilities near key arterial roads reduce variability to Lagos and northern hubs, lower fuel and linehaul costs, and improve predictability for same-day or next-day delivery windows.

Expect storage (per pallet or per cubic metre), receiving and putaway, pick-and-pack per order or per line, outbound handling, returns processing, inventory reconciliation, minimum monthly fees, and surcharges (fuel, peak season). Factor labour and local utility costs into unit economics.

Request live WMS demos, API documentation, sample reports and SLA templates. Ask for historical KPI dashboards (OTIF, pick accuracy, dock-to-stock), references, trial periods or pilot SKUs, and contractual remedies for missed service levels to ensure transparency and enforceability.