Assess racked pallet positions, dock count and door types, climate control, mezzanine capacity, and material handling equipment. Verify WMS functionality, API integration, pick-and-pack workflows, SLA commitments, and KPIs for accuracy, lead times, and returns processing before contracting.

Shorter transit times and dense carrier networks lower parcel zones and reduce LTL mileage, translating to lower per-shipment costs and tighter delivery windows. Evaluate access to trunk roads, local carrier pools, and parcel sort facilities to estimate landed cost and SLA reliability.

Expect a mix of storage-per-pallet/sku, handling-per-pick, inbound receiving, and value-added service fees. Negotiate minimums, volume tiers, true-up clauses, and transparent billing for addons (kitting, returns). Model scenarios to compare all-in cost versus in-house warehousing.

Request sandbox API access, run test orders and ASN flows, audit cycle counts and reconciliation reports, and review sample KPI dashboards. Require phased onboarding with acceptance criteria for pick accuracy, lead-time, and exception handling prior to full-scale launch.