Evaluate dock configuration, cross-dock capability, cold-chain availability, and clear carrier lane maps. Check on scheduled air and sea connections, local drayage options, and contingency routing. Confirm WMS integration, EDI/API support, and real-time inventory visibility to minimize lead-time variability and support peak demand.

Seasonality and remote access increase variability in lead times and freight rates; plan higher safety stock, longer reorder cycles, and contingency transport. Expect premium for expedited air or charter services during constrained windows and factor these into cost-to-serve models when negotiating SLAs and volume discounts.

Key KPIs include order accuracy, on-time shipment rate, dock-to-despatch lead time, inventory accuracy, and cost-per-pick. Also compare return processing times, damage rates, and technology uptime. Use these metrics to benchmark performance under both baseline and peak scenarios.

Perform a site audit, request operational SOPs, and validate WMS/WCS integrations and security protocols. Run a pilot with representative SKUs to measure pick rates and accuracy. Check carrier contracts, insurance, and regulatory compliance for handling special goods to ensure the 3PL meets your SLA and risk requirements.