Prioritize facility location relative to major highways and customer clusters, warehouse throughput and slotting efficiency, real-time inventory systems (WMS), SLA guarantees for order accuracy and lead times, and contract terms for seasonal volume flexibility. Evaluate labor availability and contingency plans for peak periods.

Model scenarios using unit shipping cost, average parcel/dimension weight, inventory carrying cost, and expected delivery windows. Run sensitivity analysis on order density by ZIP, include return flows, and incorporate carrier zone pricing and fuel surcharges to quantify trade-offs in cost and service levels.

Look for a modern WMS with API connectivity to ecommerce platforms, real-time inventory visibility, batch and wave picking support, barcoding/RFID, and exceptions reporting. Confirm EDI or API integrations for order flows, label generation, and carrier booking to reduce manual touchpoints.

Assess disaster resilience (flood/earthquake exposure), business continuity plans, insurance limits, cybersecurity posture for shared systems, workforce stability, and contractual clauses for liability, service credits, and exit timelines to mitigate operational and financial risks.