Prioritize proximity to the M4 corridor and Heathrow, local carrier terminals, and rail interchanges. Assess last‑mile reach into the South East and Midlands, typical transit times to your customer clusters, and the 3PL’s carrier partnerships for parcel, pallet and express services.

Compare unit rents, service charges and available contract terms (short‑term vs long‑term). Evaluate local labour availability and productivity, plus the 3PL’s ability to scale labour and automation during peaks to control cost per order and maintain service levels.

Seek real‑time WMS/OMS integrations, inventory visibility across channels, returns processing, pick‑and‑pack and kitting, multi-temperature storage if needed, and reporting for KPIs. Confirm EDI/API connectivity to your storefronts and carriers for seamless operations.

Negotiate SLAs for order accuracy, on‑time dispatch, dock‑to‑stock time, and claims resolution. Include transparent billing lines for storage, handling and value‑added services, agreed uplift processes for peak seasons, and penalties or remedies tied to demonstrable KPI breaches.