Request clear KPIs including order cycle time, on-time shipment rate, picking accuracy, dock-to-stock time, and labor productivity. Also ask for lane-level transit times, average dwell at customs, and service-level flexibility to model total landed time and cost.

Prioritize WMS compatibility (API integrations), clear height and racking density for scalability, ambient vs. cold-chain capacity, throughput-focused dock configurations, and availability of value-added services like kitting and returns handling.

Assess contracted carrier lanes, frequency of departures, intermodal connections, and relationships with national carriers. Verify lane performance data, transit time variability, and contingency plans for peak season capacity constraints.

Model fixed storage rates, throughput fees (receiving, picking, packing), inbound and outbound freight, value-added service charges, seasonal labor surcharges, and estimated customs or cross-border fees to calculate true delivered cost.