Prioritize 3PLs with reliable road access to regional corridors, real‑time inventory and order management integrations (WMS/APIs), and established relationships with regional carriers and last‑mile providers. Check handling capacity for your SKU mix and proof‑of‑delivery processes to ensure consistent transit times and visibility.

Calculate total landed cost by combining warehousing rent, handling fees, inbound and outbound freight, duties (if cross‑border), and last‑mile delivery. Benchmark transit times from Bukwo to your primary customer zones and model cost per order at different volume scenarios to compare against alternative hub locations.

Confirm scalable storage footprint, flexible labor arrangements for peak seasons, secure receiving and QA processes, reverse logistics and returns processing, and the ability to add kitting or light assembly. Also verify temperature control if your SKU portfolio includes regulated or climate‑sensitive items.

Evaluate SLAs for order accuracy, on‑time fulfillment, and claims response; review historical capacity performance during peaks; assess technology compatibility for order routing and reporting; and negotiate scalable pricing tiers or minimums that align with expected volume swings.