Assess arterial road quality and distance to main distribution corridors, dock door counts and staging areas, availability of cross-dock and breakbulk handling, and direct relationships with national carriers and local last-mile providers. Also confirm intermodal or port feeder options and on-site material handling equipment to minimize dwell time and transport costs.

Layout influences pick-path efficiency, travel time, and racking density; labor models determine flexibility during peaks and accuracy rates. Evaluate pick/pack processes, training, KPI transparency, and automation potential to estimate throughput, error rates, and the effective cost-per-order under realistic seasonality scenarios.

Require a modern WMS with real-time inventory, API/TMS connectivity, and EDI or API links to carriers. Look for configurable reporting and dashboards for lead times, inventory aging, and exceptions, plus batch traceability and performance metrics to support omnichannel KPIs and operational governance.

Prioritize transparent pricing (storage, handling, and accessorials), SLA definitions and remedies, insurance and liability terms, capacity guarantees for peak seasons, and contingency plans for labor or transport disruptions. Validate financial stability, client references, and scalability for network expansion.