Assess corridor connectivity (proximity to trunk roads and border crossings), multi-modal terminals, carrier density, average transit times to core markets, customs handling expertise, and peak-season labor flexibility. Also review WMS integrations and reporting to ensure visibility across the cross-border flow.

Compare landed cost scenarios including transit, duties, warehousing rates, and last-mile fees. Model zone skipping, reduced transit days, inventory days of supply, and labor differentials. Run a 6–12 month TCO projection with sample SKUs and order profiles to estimate net savings.

Require measurable KPIs: order cycle time, picking accuracy, on-time shipments, dock door availability, and inventory turnover. Verify infrastructure: racked capacity, cross-dock space, forklift fleet, temperature-controlled areas if needed, and integration-ready WMS with EDI/APIs.

Request certifications (ISO, safety), audit reports, insurance limits, SLA templates, and references. Conduct site visits to validate capacity and processes, run pilot volumes to test scale-up, and review contract terms for performance penalties, data ownership, and exit/transition clauses.