Request KPIs that reflect daily operations and customer experience: order accuracy, on-time shipments, dock-to-stock cycle time, average picks per hour, and inventory shrink rate. Include SLA penalties and reporting cadence to ensure visibility and continuous improvement.

Location determines route density and driver miles. Choosing a site closer to major arterial roads and customer clusters reduces last-mile spend and shortens ETAs. Evaluate carrier pickup schedules, road congestion patterns, and proximity to consolidation points when selecting a warehouse.

Prioritize facilities with configurable racking, pick-and-pack zones, cross-dock capability, and integration-ready WMS/ERP interfaces. Also confirm mezzanine capacity, climate control for sensitive SKUs, and secure receiving docks to support mixed SKU velocity.

Negotiate transparent billing (storage by SKU tier, pick fees, inbound handling), minimum volume commitments, seasonal rate caps, and exit terms. Include provisions for audit rights, SLA credits, and defined change-order pricing to manage scope changes.

Carrier density and multimodal links (road to port) affect consolidation options and transit predictability. Choose 3PLs with established carrier contracts, freight audit processes, and regional routing expertise to optimize LTL vs. parcel decisions and reduce dwell time at transfer points.