Evaluate warehouse footprint, pick/pack throughput, WMS and API/EDI connectivity, inventory control accuracy, returns processing, SLA guarantees, and experience with your product type. Also review carrier integrations, reporting, and contingency plans for seasonality and peak volumes.

Prioritise road access to M9/M80, transit times to major population centers, proximity to regional ports and rail freight, availability of national and local carrier networks, and final‑mile partnerships. These determine transit windows and landed cost to customers.

Yes—provided the 3PL offers flexible storage, scalable labor pools, temporary capacity solutions (e.g., contingency space, seasonal hires), robust WMS rules for channel prioritisation, and proven peak‑season SOPs to maintain SLA performance.

Pricing reflects land and labor rates, transport proximity to customers and ports, density of co‑tenants (which can reduce per‑unit handling costs), availability of multi‑modal options, and local incentives. Assess total landed cost (storage, handling, transport, returns) rather than headline rates.