Prioritize location relative to major routes, carrier density, WMS/TMS integration, labor pool and shift flexibility, and available storage types (ambient/cold/bonded). Require documented SLAs, onboarding timelines, peak labor plans, and sample KPIs (OTD, inventory accuracy, order lead time) to compare operational readiness and total cost of service.

Run zone-based transit analyses using realistic SKU profiles, request live carrier rate cards and sample routing maps from potential 3PLs, and model handling, drayage, and last-mile charges. Include inventory carrying costs and projected fill rates to calculate landed cost and service-level tradeoffs before committing.

Key features include high-density racking, dedicated pick-and-pack zones, temperature-controlled storage if needed, scalable labor and staging areas for returns, robust WMS with API-enabled carrier integrations, real-time inventory visibility, and security/compliance controls to protect value-added operations.

Negotiate clear SLAs with financial remedies, transparent chargeback structures, volume-tiered pricing, minimum commitment terms, defined onboarding and ramp schedules, audit and reporting rights, transition assistance, and insurance/indemnity clauses to limit exposure and enable predictable scaling.