Evaluate dock door capacity, racking density, temperature-controlled cubic footage, WMS and TMS integration, average order cycle time, labor availability and seasonal flexibility, receiving throughput, and safety/compliance records. Request performance data (OTD, accuracy, dock-to-stock) and sample KPIs tied to your peak volumes to model real cost-to-serve.

Carrier access determines freight lanes and consolidation options. Air vs. highway routing affects unit cost and lead time; limited direct lanes may require consolidation hubs adding handling. Model zone-based rates, last-mile premiums for remote delivery, and potential for zone-skipping to understand landed cost and SLA trade-offs.

Include fuel and freight premiums for remote routing, seasonal labor premiums, inventory holding for staging windows, cold-storage energy costs, and potential demurrage for weather-related delays. Factor in contingency warehousing for peak seasons and any specialized equipment rental or handling fees.

Require kitting and light assembly, barcode relabeling, returns processing with disposition workflows, pick-and-pack variations for marketplace channels, ASN/EDI or API integrations, and quality inspection capabilities. Confirm ability to manage batch shipping, subscriptions, and marketplace-specific packing rules.

Conduct a site tour, request SLA and KPI history, run a proof-of-concept for a representative SKU set, verify WMS/TMS integrations, check references for similar seasonal peaks, review disaster recovery and contingency plans, and confirm insurance and certifications that align with your compliance needs.