Track order accuracy, on-time-in-full (OTIF), pick-and-pack cycle time, inventory accuracy, dock-to-stock time, cost-per-order, and throughput per dock. Validate WMS reporting, SLA penalties, and historical performance during peak periods to ensure the provider meets your customer promise and cost-to-serve targets.

Proximity to highways and rail corridors broadens carrier options, enabling lane optimization and lower line-haul rates. Better multimodal access reduces transit time variability and improves predictability for replenishment and eCommerce deliveries, which lowers buffer stock needs and total landed cost.

Key features include sufficient dock doors and staging, high-bay racking and clear heights for density, temperature-controlled zones, modern WMS with API connectivity, security and redundancy for utilities, and scalable labor models. These attributes support throughput, accuracy, and flexible service levels.

Model fixed versus variable facility costs, pick density and order profile, inbound consolidation savings, average order size, and peak-season labor uplift. Incorporate freight lanes, expected lead-time reductions, returns handling costs, and KPIs to compare net savings and scalability across shortlisted providers.