Expect reduced trunk transit time to central markets, lower fixed warehousing costs, and easier aggregation of rural supplier shipments. Evaluate WMS maturity, slotting and picking efficiency, claims and returns handling, and the 3PL’s carrier network for last‑mile reach to urban customers.

Compare total landed cost — land, labor, utilities, and transport — not just rent. Factor in average dwell time, reorder frequency, and expected pick density. Consider trade‑offs: lower storage cost may increase last‑mile spend if carrier access is limited.

Verify road access and site security, redundant power and connectivity, WMS/API capabilities, insured inventory handling, and SLA/KPI definitions. Confirm cold‑chain capability if needed and any local permits or customs procedures for export consolidation.

Require accurate inventory visibility (real‑time WMS), scalable pick‑and‑pack staffing, multi‑carrier shipping options, returns processing, kitting/assembly, and clear surge pricing. Integration ease with your OMS/platform is critical for rapid scaling.

Request carrier partner lists, lane transit time samples, on‑time delivery metrics, and historical volume performance. Review transit time maps to major destinations, sample shipping rates for key lanes, and references for similar shippers to validate network reliability.