Evaluate highway and rail access, distance to regional parcel hubs, on-site loading bay capacity, and frequency of carrier pickups. Check WMS integration capabilities, average dock-to-stock times, and contingency routing for peak seasons to maintain SLAs and reduce transit variability.

Lower land and labor rates can reduce fixed charge components, enabling competitive per-pick pricing. For high-velocity SKUs expect optimized slotting and batch picking discounts; for slow-turn items, ask about storage tiers and long-term inventory rates to manage cost-to-serve.

Demand WMS with order routing, real-time inventory sync, multi-channel order prioritization, and last-mile carrier integrations. Also confirm cut-off times, returns processing workflows, and value-added services like kitting and light assembly to keep omnichannel promises consistent.

Look for bonded storage, customs brokerage partnerships, documentation support for export/import, and experience with preferential trade agreements. Also evaluate how the provider handles duty deferral, classification, and audit-ready record-keeping to reduce border delays and penalty risk.