Industries and use cases
Franchise and Branch Locators with Exact Entrances
Multi-site businesses can publish the exact entrance for every branch. See how UPCS codes and the embeddable map support a clear branch locator.
Updated 14 October 2026 · 3 min read
A branch locator on a company website usually shows a pin in the middle of a shopping centre or beside a large road. Customers arrive in the right neighbourhood and then circle the block looking for the door. For franchise operators the problem multiplies: each outlet is run by a different person, with different directions and a different idea of what the entrance is.
A UPCS code lets each branch name its entrance exactly. It takes anyone who opens it to the exact spot that was picked, a 3 m x 3 m square. It complements your address data; it is not an official branch identifier.
What each outlet can publish
- Customer entrance for walk-in visitors.
- Pickup counter or collection point for online orders.
- Delivery entrance for suppliers.
- Parking access for customers who drive.
Each is a separate pick on the map and gets its own code. Store the codes in your central branch table next to the street address, opening hours and phone number.
Rolling it out across franchises
- Provide a one-page instruction: open upcs.io, zoom in, pick the entrance, copy the code.
- Have each operator send the codes back to head office or enter them in a shared sheet.
- Review the list on the map for obvious errors before publishing.
- Add the code to the branch page, receipts and confirmation messages.
This keeps data ownership with head office while each operator uses their own knowledge of the premises.
Technical options
Companies with their own site can embed the map and read each picked location from the onSelect callback, then store the returned code against the branch. Server-side, the REST API can generate or look up codes for stored coordinates. Details are in the documentation. Online stores on WordPress/WooCommerce, PrestaShop or OpenCart can use the plugins for checkout locations.
Further reading: retail store pickup, online marketplaces and pharmacies.
Practical tips
- Use the same naming convention for every branch in your table.
- Ask operators to pick the door customers use, not the building centre.
- Review codes after a refit or relocation; a moved entrance gets a new code.
- Show the code beside the address so customers can copy either.
Frequently asked questions
Does UPCS provide a ready-made branch locator widget? No. UPCS provides codes, a map you can embed and a REST API; the locator page itself is yours to build.
Do customers need an app? No. A web browser is enough.
Frequently asked questions
Can I show all branches on one map?
UPCS gives you a code and an embeddable map to pick a location and read its code. A multi-branch listing is something you build on your own site using the codes you saved.
Can a branch have separate codes for customers and for deliveries?
Yes. Pick the customer door and the service entrance separately; each has its own code.