Focus on carrier connectivity, transit times to your customer base, dock-door capacity, SLA track record, WMS/TMS interoperability, and the provider's ability to scale labor and space for seasonal peaks. Evaluate value-added services (kitting, returns, custom packaging) and data access for order-level visibility.

Transport costs are influenced by proximity to interstates and railheads, density of LTL/parcel carriers, and average transit velocity. Closer access to multimodal hubs reduces linehaul and drayage, while higher density improves parcel zone efficiency — both lower total landed cost and delivery lead times.

Require real-time inventory sync, order orchestration, API/EDI connectivity, carrier rate shopping, and KPI dashboards. Look for configurable rules for allocation, automated returns processing, and the ability to expose fulfillment metrics for your ERP or storefront.

Assess local labor availability and wage trends, historical turnover rates, and lease structures (short-term vs. long-term). Include provisions for peak labor agreements, performance-based SLAs, and escalators tied to occupancy or throughput to manage cost volatility.

Conduct a pilot SKU set, validate WMS mappings and EDI/API flows, agree on KPIs and penalties, confirm inbound appointment processes and backup carrier plans, and run cycle-count and cutover rehearsals to minimize stock discrepancies at go-live.