Prioritize multimodal access (airport, seaport, road), bonded/free-zone capabilities, pick-and-pack technology, SLA-driven outbound performance, and transparent inventory visibility. Also evaluate seasonal capacity flexibility, slotting for SKU velocity, and carrier integrations for last-mile delivery.

Free zones reduce import duties, enable bonded storage, and speed clearance — lowering landed costs and enabling consolidated shipments. Efficient customs processes and dedicated ICDs shorten lead times for cross-border orders and simplify returned-goods handling for regional eCommerce operations.

Analyze warehouse rent per pallet location, labor productivity and overtime exposure, inbound handling charges, pick-and-pack rates, cross-dock and value-added service fees, and local carrier pricing for last-mile delivery. Model per-order and per-SKU costs under peak demand scenarios.

Look for real-time WMS with API connectivity, carrier-neutral TMS, EDI/REST integrations for marketplaces and ERPs, returns management workflows, and reporting dashboards for inventory health and order cycle metrics. Support for kitting, labeling and temperature control adds operational flexibility.