Prioritize carrier connectivity (ocean, air, road), WMS and EDI compatibility, labor skillsets for your product types, bonded/free zone options for duty management, and SLA-backed performance metrics (OTD, inventory accuracy). Also evaluate value-added services like kitting, cold chain, and returns processing that align with your channel mix.

Proximity reduces drayage and multi-handling, lowering cost-to-serve and shrinkage risk while shortening lead times to regional markets. Near-port warehouses enable quicker transload, faster customs clearance in bonded facilities, and improved schedule reliability for time-sensitive air-sea shipments.

Look for cloud WMS with real-time inventory, marketplace and carrier integrations, API-based order routing, barcode/RFID scanning, and reporting dashboards. These improve inventory visibility, reduce stockouts, and automate carrier selection for best-cost parcel and LTL fulfillment.

Key drivers: inbound handling, customs duties, storage density, labor, and last-mile delivery. Optimize by consolidating inbound shipments, using bonded storage to defer duties, negotiating volumetric carrier rates, improving pick density, and selecting cross-dock or just-in-time replenishment to reduce storage days.