Prioritize proximity to major trade routes and border crossings, road quality for carrier reliability, available warehouse types (ambient, chilled, bonded), local labor skills and costs, and connectivity to major carriers. Also review WMS capabilities, SLAs for pick/pack accuracy and dock turnaround, and contingency plans for seasonal demand.

Transportation lanes dictate consolidation opportunities and frequency of carrier pickups. Strong carrier pools and direct lanes reduce transit time and mitigate multi-hop handling costs. Evaluate carrier schedules, freight consolidation options, and last-mile partners to optimize cost-per-order and on-time delivery metrics.

Key capabilities include a WMS with API connectivity, real-time inventory visibility, configurable pick-and-pack workflows, returns processing, and cold-chain storage if required. Integration with marketplaces and carrier platforms, plus labor management and barcode/RFID processes, enable scalable, auditable fulfillment.

Model per-order cost including storage, pick/pack, and outbound freight under peak assumptions. Request historical SLA performance for peak periods, review surge staffing plans, and examine rate cards for seasonal tariffs. Use KPIs—order accuracy, dock-to-stock time, and on-time delivery—to compare provider trade-offs objectively.