RESOURCES: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
This page contains the most frequently asked questions regarding the Store Finder website store locator system. Should you have a question not answered here, please use the form at the end of the page to submit your question and we will answer you as promptly as we can.
How long does it take to set up Store Finder for my website?
The setup procedure takes approximately 15 minutes. This includes learning details about the system and uploading your locations list. Once your system is up and running subsequent uploads will take seconds as you will know what to do and where to go and what to expect.
If you do not have a web designer who can connect your site to Store Finder please let us know we will be happy to assist you. There are only two lines of HTML code that need to be added.
Does the free trial have any restrictions on it?
No. The trial is a fully featured, completely unrestricted version of the actual product and provides you with an accurate experience which you can use to see how effective Store Finder will be for your business.
How can I find out about StoreFinder pricing?
Contact us to learn about the different pricing models and options available, and to find out which plan best suits your particular needs. Our rates are highly competitive and very affordable. If you would would like a written quote, please complete our contact form. Alternatively you may phone to speak with us personally. We look forward to hearing from you.
Where is Store Finder placed on my website?
The ideal position on your website to place Store Finder is near the top of the homepage where everybody can see it. This makes it much more likely for visitors to use the service. We have written a concise article to help you get the most out of Store Finder which you can read here.
How fast is Store Finder?
Store Finder is extremely fast at performing lookups, typically taking less than a second to return a result.
How accurate is Store Finder?
Store Finder is accurate to within the radius of a postcode. All distance estimates are based on the road network.
How many locations can Store Finder have in it?
Thousands; None of our clients have yet reached the limit.
How are the retail outlets / locations managed?
All of the locations are stored in an Excel spreadsheet and uploaded to Store Finder using an easy to use Web interface. You may upload a new spreadsheet as frequently as you like.
Can Store Finder be used internally (eg: for a call centre)?
Yes. Companies can use Store Finder internally by staff or to field phone calls so that when a prospect calls, you can quickly look up the most appropriate place to serve them.
What kind of information can Store Finder display to visitors?
Store Finder currently has 5 default fields in its spreadsheet which are displayed to the visitor after they perform a look up. These fields are: Location name, Address line 1, Address line 2, Suburb name and Postcode. You can easily add as many more fields as your particular business requires in addition these 5 default fields.
What kind of security is in place to protect my valuable retail outlets / locations list?
We take security very seriously. Our administration area is SSL secured, this encryption protects not only your passwords but also your uploads. Your list of retailers is protected behind special security barriers on our Linux servers.
How does Store Finder work?
It takes a few minutes to add the Store Finder plug-in to your website. This typically consists of a button or link which visitors click on to start the service. A pop-up window then appears, customised for your company, which allows visitors to find their nearest locations.
The Store Finder algorithm range finds locations based on the geographic centre (using longitude and latitude) of their postcode boundary. When a postcode search is initiated the system compares the values in the locations list provided by the merchant, against the postcode desired by the visitor, and displays the closest matches.
What about reliability?
Store Finder is an extremely reliable and entirely Australian based service. All equipment and infrastructure used to support the hosting services is located in our high grade data centre located within the $150m carrier neutral Global Switch facility. The facility consists of:
- N+1 redundant UPS system in place to provide clean reliable power
- N+1 onsite Diesel generator is used to supply power for extended outages
- N+1 redundant air conditioning systems to maintain temperature
- Gas based fire suppression with VESDA smoke detection and alarm system
- Backup dry head water hydrant system
- Onsite security guards 24 x 7
- Electronic access control systems
- 24 x 7 access to allow out of hours fault resolution
Network
- Multi homed network connectivity
- 100Mbps Ethernet links to Uecomm, 100Mbps Primus, 100 Mbps PIPE
- Fully redundant core routing and switching infrastructure
- Out of band access for management activities
- Full remote administration capability
Servers
All our servers are high end rackmount equipment. We maintain a large onsite inventory of spare components and identical servers to allow rapid resolution of faults.
Will I need to change my website hosting to accommodate Store Finder?
No! Store Finder is a fully hosted solution with everything residing on a separate server optimised to the special needs of our lookups. We take care of backups, updates, software improvements, and your data logs. All you need to do is add two lines of HTML code to your existing site and Store Finder will immediately begin working for you.
Are there any special databases (such as SQL) that need to be set up to make Store Finder work?
No. Because Store Finder is served from our own servers there is no complicated or expensive coding required to connect your website up. Managing an Excel spreadsheet of locations is all you need to do.
I am a non-technical person, is Store Finder easy to manage?
Store Finder is extremely easy to manage. All the locations are stored in an Excel spreadsheet. Whenever significant changes are made to the spreadsheet, you simply upload it into the system using an easy to use browser interface which we provide you upon signup.
I don’t like the default Store Finder background, can I supply my own?
Yes! Our customised look and feel system allows you to change the appearance of the pop-up window to match your web sites appearance. The result is a seamless integration with your existing site.
I’d like to have my company logo appear in the Store Finder pop-up. Is this possible?
Absolutely. Our customised look and feel system allows the use of logos.
I am a web designer interested in using Store Finder for my clients. Is this possible / how would this work?
Certainly. We can provide you with a number of ways to on-sell the system, including generous commissions for sales. Please contact us if you are interested in on-selling Store Finder as an additional service for your clients.
Is Store Finder accessible to the visually impaired?
We were careful to design Store Finder to be compatible with screen reader technology making it’s results accessible to the visually impaired.
My business is based on service providers distributed across many locations who each service multiple postcodes. Can Store Finder handle this?
Yes. Store Finder can cater to the needs of businesses that service multiple postcodes (such as a mobile mechanic franchise where each mechanic is designated a “sales area” to work in). Read more about our territory manager.
What billing options do you offer?
We understand that different organisations have different needs. Our billing system is automated to charge by credit card monthly in arrears, or annualised invoicing schedules.