Evaluate transit‑time reductions, carrier coverage, dock door and bay capacity, racking density, and temperature‑control availability. Also require real‑time inventory visibility, integration with your OMS, SLA definitions for pick/pack and ship, throughput guarantees, and contingency plans for peak demand to measure operational fit.

Closer proximity reduces drayage, lowers transit variability, and increases carrier options, which lowers per‑order transport costs and improves on‑time performance. It also shortens lead times for cross‑border shipments and can reduce the need for intermediate consolidation, lowering handling costs and touchpoints.

Prioritize facilities with ample dock doors, high bay racking, separate zones for receiving/returns, bonded and cold storage capability, and secure staging for palletized outbound loads. Equally important are WMS functionality, carrier connect options, and processes for fast putaway and rapid order cycle times.

Expect combinations of storage per‑pallet or per‑m2, throughput-based picking and packing fees, inbound receiving charges, and monthly minimums. Negotiate clear SLA metrics for order accuracy, ship time, and inventory reconciliation, with defined remedies or discounts for non‑performance and scalable volume tiers to capture growth discounts.