Evaluate WMS integration and real-time inventory visibility, SLA-backed pick-and-pack accuracy, dock-door and pallet capacity, labor flexibility, and value-added services (kitting, assembly). Validate carrier networks and transit times to primary customer zones and request KPI history or trial runs to confirm execution.

Prioritize proximity to major highways and intermodal terminals, dock density for throughput, availability of regional and national carriers, access to last-mile networks, and on-site staging for cross-dock operations. These factors drive transit times, carrier rates, and fulfillment reliability.

Typical pricing mixes include storage (per pallet/month), pick-and-pack (per pick or per order), receiving and handling, and accessorials (fuel, oversized items, returns). Key cost drivers: density of stored SKUs, pick profile, throughput volume, labor rates, and peak-season surcharges.

• Real-time WMS with API or EDI connectivity to your ERP/OMS and sales channels
• Carrier integration for label generation and tracking
• Automated inventory reconciliation and daily/weekly KPI dashboards
• Exception management workflows and electronic proof-of-delivery

Define clear KPIs (OTD, order accuracy, inventory accuracy), penalties/incentives, insurance and liability terms, audit and inventory reconciliation cadence, contingency planning for labor or transport disruptions, and change-management procedures for scale or SKU shifts.