Prioritize WMS capabilities, real-time inventory visibility, slotting and kitting services, and the provider's carrier integrations. Also evaluate facility layout, dock capacity, proximity to primary roads, cross-border customs handling, and demonstrated experience with peak-season scaling.

A local 3PL reduces last-mile mileage, consolidates inbound shipments, and enables optimized carrier routing. By leveraging lower warehouse rents and localized labor, third-party providers can lower storage and handling rates while improving inventory turnover and reducing stockouts.

• Modern racked storage and clear bay/dock management
• Integrated WMS with carrier APIs
• Temperature control where required
• Bonded storage and cross-dock options

Primary road condition, proximity to major trade corridors, and distance to border crossings directly affect transit time. Also consider seasonal weather impacts on routes, local carrier density, and distance to key customer clusters when modeling lead times.

Use measurable KPIs: order accuracy, on-time shipments, dwell time, inventory accuracy, and cost-per-order. Request site walkthroughs, references from similar clients, and sample SLA language. Run a pilot SKU program to validate real-world throughput and error rates.