Prioritize measurable KPIs and capabilities: transit time reductions, SLA guarantees, WMS/API integration, slotting and capacity flexibility, returns processing, and transparent billing. Also assess disaster recovery, labor stability, and experience with your product profile to mitigate scale-up risks.

Proximity to highways, intermodal terminals, and dense carrier lanes reduces linehaul costs and shortens delivery windows. Regions with predictable traffic patterns and multiple carrier options allow tighter SLA commitments and lower expedited shipping spend.

Require a modern WMS with real-time inventory, open APIs/EDI, order management features, and reporting. Integration must enable inventory reservations, split-order routing, returns processing, and accurate chargeback reconciliation to maintain omnichannel consistency.

Model total landed cost: include storage, safety stock increases, transit costs, and service-level impacts. Regional nodes often reduce shipping spend and delivery times but increase inventory carrying costs. Pilot a two-node network and measure fulfillment unit economics before broader rollout.