Prioritize order accuracy, inventory accuracy, pick/pack cycle time, dock-door and staging capacity, racked storage density, cold chain availability if needed, and WMS/API integration readiness. Also evaluate SLA penalties, peak labor scalability, and reporting granularity for inventory and fulfillment KPIs.

Real estate and labor determine baseline handling and storage rates; higher rents or labor rates increase monthly storage and per-pick fees. Also consider transportation access and density — remote sites can raise linehaul costs. Negotiate blended pricing (storage, pick, packing, and inbound handling) to model total landed cost per SKU.

Onboarding typically runs 6–12 weeks depending on complexity: contract and SLA finalization, WMS connectivity and API testing, SKU master data transfer, physical labeling and slotting, cycle-counts and test orders, staff training, and a phased go‑live with close monitoring of KPIs and exception handling.

Assess proximity to major highways, regional parcel hubs, and intermodal terminals; request carrier lists and lane coverage; review published transit times and historical performance for similar shippers; validate last-mile partner relationships and reporting for delivery success, exceptions, and proof‑of‑delivery.