Prioritize carrier network density, typical transit times to your key customers, available SKUs handling (e.g., pallet vs. piece pick), bonded and temperature-controlled capacity, WMS capabilities and API connectivity, SLA terms for pick/pack/ship, and demonstrated peak-season scalability.

Transport and last-mile costs depend on route density and distance to urban demand centers. A centrally located Desaguadero warehouse can reduce inland drayage and shorten regional routes, lowering total landed cost for inland customers, though port-proximate hubs may still have advantages for import-dominant flows.

Look for WMS with real-time inventory, API or EDI integrations for order flows, scalable slotting and batch-picking logic, carrier rate-shop functionality, and reporting for KPIs such as order accuracy, on-time ship, and average fulfillment lead time.

Verify customs brokerage experience, availability of bonded storage, declared import/export processes, documentation workflows, and proven cycle times for clearance. Confirm the 3PL's carrier partnerships and insurance terms covering cross-border transit.

Calculate total cost-to-serve by combining fixed and variable fees: storage, inbound receiving, picking/packing, labeling, kitting, returns processing, and outbound freight. Model typical order profiles (SKU count, order weight, shipment zones) to compare apples-to-apples quotes and SLA penalties.