Evaluate warehouse footprint and SKU density, carrier integration and regional lanes, WMS and automation capabilities, inbound receiving and put-away throughput, and transparent pricing including storage, handling, and accessorials. Prioritize partners with service-level reporting and clear escalation processes.

Proximity to major highways, consolidation hubs, and carrier terminals reduces last-mile kilometers and improves delivery windows. Urban-adjacent sites enable faster cutoffs and lower final-mile costs, while more remote sites may offer lower space costs but longer transit times—balance cost against service requirements.

Key metrics include order accuracy, inventory accuracy, on-time shipment percentage, pick/pack throughput (lines/hour), dock-to-door lead time, return processing time, damage rates, and reporting cadence. Contractual SLAs with defined remedies make performance measurable and actionable.

Typical pricing includes storage by pallet or cubic volume, pick/pack fees by order or line, receiving charges, returns handling, and accessorials. Negotiate minimum-volume tiers, caps on accessorials, defined chargeable weight rules, KPI‑linked incentives or penalties, and trial periods to validate rates against actual throughput.