Evaluate transit times to your customer base, carrier cut‑offs, cross‑dock and sortation capabilities, inventory visibility and WMS integrations. Prioritize partners offering scalable space, automated picking options, reliable SLA reporting, and flexible billing that aligns with seasonal demand.

A Wandsworth location reduces urban road miles and enables tighter delivery windows across London, lowering same‑day/next‑day costs for metropolitan customers. For nationwide shipping, savings from shorter final‑mile legs may offset higher occupancy, particularly for high‑turn SKUs.

Confirm multimodal connectivity (road/rail), direct access to primary parcel hubs, dock capacity, secure staging and parking, and technology compatibility (API/WMS). Validate peak handling, carrier integrations, and contingency plans for congestion or service disruptions.

Key features include real‑time inventory sync, EDI/API carrier booking, batch/slotting optimization, returns management, and configurable SLAs for lead times and order accuracy. For DTC, same‑day cut‑offs and carrier choice matter; for B2B, pallet handling and appointment booking are essential.

Negotiate transparent billing (space, handling, pick/pack), defined SLAs with penalties, flexible term lengths, ramp‑up/out plans, and capacity guarantees for peak periods. Include exit terms for inventory recovery and data portability to limit operational disruption during transitions.