Prioritize carrier connectivity to General Santos seaport/airport, transit time guarantees, slotting and pick-path efficiency, order accuracy SLAs, and transparent activity-based pricing. Also evaluate peak-season scalability, IT integration (WMS/API), and reverse logistics capability to support returns and omnichannel flows.

Warehousing in South Cotabato typically offers lower land and labor costs than Metro Manila and can deliver shorter last-mile times within southern Mindanao. Lead time to Luzon may be longer via short-sea or air, but for regional distribution the trade-off favors reduced on-hand inventory and lower per-unit fulfillment costs.

Inspect racking and floor capacity, fire and safety systems, bonded or customs-ready status (if exports are planned), cold-chain continuity, security systems, and WMS compatibility. Validate carrier access, loading bay configuration, and documentation processes for inter-island shipments.

Yes—many operators offer separate processes for eCommerce (single-piece picking, returns handling) and B2B (palletized cross-dock, scheduled deliveries). Confirm SLA differentiation, packaging options, and dedicated picking lanes to ensure mixed-service efficiency without cross-channel interference.

Require real-time inventory visibility, EDI/API order flow, ASN and POD support, standardized reporting, and automated chargeback reconciliation. Ensure the 3PL provides sandbox testing, secure data transfer, and event-driven alerts for exceptions to preserve service levels.