Prioritize network location relative to customer demand, carrier integrations and zonal rates, WMS/TMS compatibility, SLA commitments for order cycle time and inventory accuracy, inbound receiving capacity, scalable labor plans, transparent billing, and demonstrated peak-season performance with references and KPIs.

Location determines zone density and available carrier lanes—closer proximity to urban centers lowers zonal shipping costs and shortens transit days. El Dorado placement can enable zone skipping, pool distribution, or same/next-day windows that materially reduce per-unit delivery expense and improve customer experience.

Require a modern WMS with real-time inventory, API/EDI integrations, scalable labor and automation options (sortation, conveyors), robust returns processing, secure storage for high-value SKUs, and performance dashboards. Verify contingency plans for labor or transport disruptions during peaks.

Key cost drivers include storage (per pallet/cubic foot), pick-and-pack labor, receiving/put-away, kitting/VAS, transportation, and chargebacks/minimums. Optimize by inventory positioning across nodes, slotting and batch picking, negotiating carrier contracts, consolidating shipments, and aligning SLAs with SKU velocity.