Prioritize SLA reliability, dock and staging capacity, racking and mezzanine options, pick-and-pack systems, and carrier integrations. Evaluate value-added services (kitting, labeling), returns workflows, peak capacity plans, and transparent cost-per-order reporting to align provider capabilities with order profiles.

Proximity to major corridors shortens dray times to LTL and parcel hubs, enabling tighter delivery windows and lower last-mile mileage. That reduces fuel and linehaul costs, improves carrier choice, and can lower average transit days for eCommerce and B2B customers.

Look for modular racking, multiple dock doors, cross-dock lanes, scalable labor pools, warehouse management system (WMS) integration, parcel manifesting, and space for temporary surge staging. Those features preserve service levels during peak demand while controlling unit labor costs.

Negotiate transparent unit rates (storage, pick, pack, cartonization), minimums, accessorial caps, volume discounts, and SLA penalties tied to on-time shipment metrics. Include audit rights, periodic rate review mechanisms, and clear definitions for chargeable events.

Assess inspection workflows, disposition options (refurbish/resell/return-to-vendor), integration with order management, and capability to restock quickly. Providers should offer clear reporting, low-cost disposition paths, and dedicated returns processing to minimize inventory downtime.