Prioritize geographic reach (proximity to customers and carriers), facility capabilities (dock doors, racking, climate control), technology (WMS, EDI/API), SLA and accuracy metrics, value-added services (kitting, returns), and scalable labor models. Evaluate carrier access and typical transit times to your top ZIP codes.

Transit times depend on interstate connectivity and carrier networks serving your delivery zones. A Fayetteville location typically improves reach into southeastern metros, reducing ground days and lowering LTL and parcel zones. Confirm local parcel providers, regional LTL lanes, and negotiated rate availability to estimate landed cost impact.

Require real-time inventory visibility, order accuracy (pick/pack error rates), on-time shipment rate, dock-to-stock time, and scalable throughput metrics. Technology should include WMS with API/EDI, carrier management, automated reporting, and integration capability with your OMS and marketplace channels.

Primary drivers: storage density, slotting efficiency, labor hours per pick, inbound handling, and outbound parcel/LTL rates. Optimize by improving SKU velocity-based storage, consolidating shipments, negotiating carrier contracts, and leveraging cross-dock or hybrid inventory strategies to reduce dwell time and handling.

Assess the 3PL's peak staffing models, temporary labor pools, overflow capacity, returns processing workflows, reverse logistics throughput, and existing B2B fulfillment accounts. Verify SLAs for returns turn-around, vendor compliance handling, and ability to sequence or kitting orders for retail and wholesale channels.