Evaluate warehouse footprint and clear height, dock door capacity, racking and mezzanine systems, cold-chain capability, cross-dock and kitting services, and local labor skill. Also require WMS compatibility, API/EDI connectivity, carrier integrations, and SLA terms that reflect your order mix and peak season needs.

Proximity to ports, intermodal terminals, and major highways reduces inbound lead times and enables carrier consolidation. Dense carrier networks increase routing options and frequency, lowering last-mile cost-per-delivery and improving on-time performance for both eCommerce parcels and B2B freight.

Compare storage (per pallet/CBM), receiving and putaway fees, pick-pack and packing rates, dimensional weight pricing, minimums, monthly minimums, accessorials, fuel surcharges, SLA penalty structures, and available volume or term discounts to model true landed fulfillment cost.

Track on-time-in-full (OTIF), order accuracy, pick-and-pack cycle time, dock-to-stock time, inventory accuracy, damage and return rates, on-hand reporting cadence, and chargeback incidents. Regular KPI reviews and root-cause analysis help maintain service levels and continuous improvement.