Prioritize WMS integration and real-time inventory visibility, scalable pick-and-pack capacity, same-day/next-day dispatch options, returns management, value-added services (kitting, labeling), and clear SLAs for order accuracy and lead times. Verify peak-season scalability and carrier connections.

Location affects road miles, carrier routing, and fuel surcharges. A Wakefield location reduces transit to northern and central markets via M62/M1 corridors, can lower landed cost by reducing average miles per delivery, and offers access to dense regional carrier networks and nearby rail/port links for modal flexibility.

Evaluate storage density (racked vs bulk), handling charges for pallet moves, inbound cross-dock fees, minimum billing units, labour rates, and transport lane costs. Lower rent may offset longer first-mile costs for some lanes; validate total landed cost per pallet, not just unit warehouse rent.

Set KPIs for on-time dispatch, order pick accuracy, inventory accuracy (cycle-count variance), dock-to-stock cycle time, returns processing time, and chargeback thresholds. Require WMS access, regular performance reporting, and defined remedies for SLA breaches to align operational accountability.