Evaluate location relative to key motorways and customer zones, WMS functionality and integrations (API/EDI), inventory visibility and accuracy, pick/pack performance and SLAs, returns processing, labour availability, and scalability of space and equipment to handle peak volumes.

Closer motorway access reduces road miles and drive time, enabling tighter delivery windows, more efficient carrier pickups and lower fuel/transport costs. Proximity to parcel and pallet hubs also supports consolidated flows, reduced surcharges and improved carrier choice for last‑mile fulfilment.

Prioritise dock capacity and door count, yard access and HGV circulation, racking type and bay heights, forklift and handling equipment, throughput SLAs, pallet handling rates, minimums, storage density options and transparent billing for inbound/outbound handling.

Require a robust WMS with real‑time inventory updates, seamless API/EDI connections to your OMS and marketplaces, barcode scanning and cycle counting, exception workflows, daily KPI dashboards (inventory accuracy, OTIF, order cycle time) and regular audit/reporting cadence.