Assess dock count and bay design, racking and slotting flexibility, WMS capabilities and integration (EDI/API), average order cycle time, labor pool stability, SLA history, and scalability for peak volumes. Include freight lane analysis to quantify transit savings and true total cost of ownership.

Location dictates access to regional carriers and ground transit windows. A centrally placed facility shortens delivery zones, enables one‑ to two‑day ground reach for nearby metros, and increases carrier choice for cost and service tradeoffs — reducing last‑mile expense and improving customer promise windows.

Require a modern WMS with real‑time inventory, carrier and marketplace integrations, pick/pack optimization, batch processing, and returns management workflows. Look for automated label generation, kitting, and configurable SLAs to support direct-to-consumer and wholesale channels.

Lower rents and labor costs can reduce storage spend, but evaluate freight spend tradeoffs — longer line-hauls may offset site savings. Model scenarios including inventory days, inbound consolidation, and outbound parcel/ LTL rates to determine net savings and the best node for scale.