Prioritize proximity to core carrier lanes, dock and staging capacity, available labor and shift flexibility, WMS/API integration, SLA transparency for pick/pack and shipping, returns handling, and scalability for peak events. Also review safety certifications and any temperature-control or hazardous-material capabilities required by your SKUs.

Occupancy and labor rates in Marietta are generally lower than downtown Atlanta markets, which can improve margin for storage and handling. Use total landed cost models—rent, labor, fuel, and last-mile rates—when comparing 3PL bids, not just per-square-foot pricing, to capture true operating economics.

A Marietta location typically offers 1-day to 2-day ground transit to many Southeast metro areas and efficient LTL connectivity across I-75/I-285 corridors. Evaluate carrier lane maps and parcel carrier density to confirm delivery windows for your top ZIP code destinations.

Require WMS with API-driven order routing, real-time inventory visibility, EDI/CSV order exchange, configurable pick/pack workflows, returns processing, kitting/assembly capability, and performance dashboards. Confirm SLAs for accuracy, pick rates, and order cycle times with penalties or remedies documented.

Onboarding commonly takes 8–16 weeks depending on complexity: requirements definition, SLA negotiation, WMS setup and integrations (2–6 weeks), warehouse slotting and process design (2–4 weeks), test orders and parallel operations (2–4 weeks), then full cutover. Build contingency time for carrier certifications and inventory reconciliation.