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Introduction to Website Integrations

Rachael Norris
Rachael Norris
  • Updated

You can use Spektrix to sell Tickets (and other items like Donations and Merchandise!) to customers on your website. This works by linking your website and Spektrix through what we call an integration. 

The way that your website and Spektrix are integrated is unique to your organisation. 

In this introduction, we’ll touch on the tools that are available to integrate your website with Spektrix. You’ll also find links to more information about concepts that relate to web integrations.

In this article, we’ll briefly introduce the following concepts: 

TIP: Find out more about online booking experiences on the Spektrix blog, Creating great ticket booking experiences for arts audiences online.

 

Setting up an Integration

There are three parties involved in setting up and managing a Web Integration: your organisation, your web developer and us at Spektrix.

 

  • You are responsible for representing the needs of your organisation and its audiences. You also hold relationships with both Spektrix and your website developer.
  • Your web developer will have the skills and expertise to translate your requirements into an online journey and integrate your website with Spektrix. The web developer is responsible for linking Spektrix to your website via the Spektrix tools in a way that is aligned with the needs of your organisation.  
  • Spektrix provides the tools for the integration, technical documentation and ideas for best practice. We can support your web developer to understand our integration tools and indicate the right tools for the job.

 

Integration Tools

There are three types of tools available for website integrations. You can choose to use one, a combination of or all of the different tools together. 

They are:

In this article we’ll also introduce Spektrix Link which is another solution available for website integration.

Don’t worry if you’re completely new to these concepts, this introductory article will take you through the basics and we’ll also provide links to other articles on the Support Centre that go into more detail.

TIP: iframes, API and Web Components are all technologies that exist outside of Spektrix. When we talk about them in our Support articles we are referring to the Spektrix specific tools which can be used to integrate with Spektrix.

Deciding which tool you will use will depend on what you are trying to achieve. This will also be influenced by your budget, your capacity, your web developer’s strengths, your timeline and any other external factors.

Before selecting a tool for the job, you’ll want to have a clear vision for the work which is grounded in your business priorities. 

Think about…

  • What outcomes do you want to see for customers?
  • How does this align with our business priorities?

Only after you’ve identified a purpose is it worth then considering the tools you can use to accomplish this. 

 

The online booking journey

You can think of our selection of Web Integration methods like a tool box. Each tool has specific uses, benefits and challenges. The tools are designed to work together, so it’s also likely you might need to use more than one tool throughout the online journey to achieve your desired outcome.

This table shows actions your customers may want to complete as part of the online journey and which tool can be used. 

intro to web integrations(1).png

Next, we’ll briefly introduce each tool and link to other articles which go into detail on the benefits and challenges.

 

iframes

iframe is short for inline frame. You can think of them as a window on your website in which another website gets placed.

iframes are the easiest of our tools to implement for your web developer to integrate with your website, but on the flipside they are the least flexible out of the tools.

When you add an iframe to a page, essentially, it adds another website within that page. 

For iframes, Spektrix provides the data, visuals and functionality for the purchase path.

Within the iframe, customers can directly interact with Spektrix to do things such as browse Events and purchase items.

Using the iframe is the only way to process payments through Spektrix on your website so this is an essential component of your website integration.

You can find out more about iFrames, what you can do with them, how to configure them and how to troubleshoot common problems in the following articles:

Start here if you are new to iframes or considering setting up a new integration:

If you are already using iFrames on your website: 

 

The API

API stands for Application Programming Interface. You can think of it as an interface or a messenger that allows websites and systems to communicate with each other.

The API is the most flexible of our integration tools. However, an integration using the API can also take the most time to develop.

In addition to iframes, one of the ways that Spektrix can communicate with your website is via the Spektrix API. 

For the API, Spektrix provides only the for the purchase path.

 

Unlike iframes, customers can’t interact with the API. 

Using the API means you can choose the information you want to receive from Spektrix and display this on your website in any way you want.

You can think of the API as a dictionary of words – reading a list of words might not have much meaning on its own, but you can use the words to build a limitless number of stories or transmit knowledge.

Start here if you are new to using the API or considering setting up a new integration:

If you are already using an API integration on your website: 

 

Web Components

Web components are pre-built building blocks that can be added to websites. They package up everything needed so that they can easily be added to your website by your web developer. 

Web components sit inbetween the API and iframes. They are easier to add to your website than using the API, and are easier to customise than iframes. 

For Web Components, Spektrix provides the data and functionality for the purchase path.

Spektrix has developed a small set of these components which save web developers time and effort when adding certain elements to a website. 

Start here if you are new to using the Web Components or considering adding them to your website:

If you are already using Web Components on your website: 

 

Spektrix Link

Spektrix Link is a pre-built website provided by Spektrix.

You can choose to use Spektrix Link instead of integrating your existing website with Spektrix using one, or a combination of, our other integration tools (iframes, API or Web Components). 

Spektrix Link is not designed to replace your main website, rather, it’s there to make it as easy as possible for you to handle the booking-specific aspects of your online journey.

To find out more about Spektrix Link, take a look at our article What is Spektrix Link?

 

 

Working with Website Developers

When working with a website developer you’ll want to get an estimated quote for the work you’re requesting.

We are always happy to chat with your web developer to answer any questions they may have so that they can compile an accurate sizing of the project and quote for you. Website developers can also access our Integrate Portal, which fully documents our integration tools. 

While articles in the Web Integrations section on the Support Centre are there to help you configure your Spektrix system, the Integrate Portal is provided to support web developers to integrate your website with Spektrix.

TIP: Don't have a web developer yet or looking for a new one? We can help. You can find a list of web agencies who have worked with us on our Partner Directory. We are also happy to suggest agencies to speak to based on your requirements and budget, contact support to speak to our team.

You can find more information about working with website developers in the article Working with Website Developers.

 

What is a CMS?

CMS stands for Content Management System. Your CMS is a piece of software that letsyou manage your website. If you have a website, your CMS is where you’ll create, manage and modify the pages. With a CMS, you can edit parts of your website in a user-friendly interface without needing the help of a web developer.

Your CMS may be unique to your organisation although there are some popular examples like Wordpress, Craft, Drupal or Umbraco. If you don’t know which CMS you use, speak to the person at your organisation who is responsible for managing your website. 

Spektrix can integrate with your website no matter which CMS you use, as long as the platform meets some basic requirements. The capabilities of your CMS can also inform which of the ways you can integrate with Spektrix. 

To learn more, take a look at our article on Your CMS and Spektrix.

 

The Website Admin Interface

The Website Admin Interface is the section of your Spektrix system that you can use to configure settings related to any of the online interfaces of Spektrix (iframes, API, and Web Components). If you have more than one website, this is also where you can add settings for all of the websites that may be integrating with your system. 

TIP: You’ll need the Administrator User Role to be able to access the Website Admin Interface.  

There are two main sections. 

  1. Resources. This is where your web developer will upload styling for your iFrames.
  2. Domain Specific Config. This is where you toggle settings related to your website integration

Take a look at our article on The Website Admin Interface for more information.

 

Custom Domains

You’ll need to set up a Custom Domain to allow customers to complete purchases on your website. Without a Custom Domain parts of the purchase path will be inaccessible and customers will be unable to complete purchases. 

Find out more, including the steps you can take to set this up, in our article on Custom Domains.

 

Website Tracking and Spektrix

Google Analytics is a free tool which is used as a platform to collect data from your websites and apps to create reports that provide insights into how customers interact with your business online.

The Website Tracking and Spektrix article gives an overview of how you can use Google Tag Manager and Google Analytics (GA4) to track customer activity on your website.

 

Website Accessibility

Spektrix is committed to improving the web accessibility of our integrations to meet the AA level of compliance in line with international Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1.  

To find out more about website accessibility and Spektrix, take a look at the following articles:

 

Further Reading

To carry on learning about Web Integrations and Spektrix take a look at the following articles:


Wireframes created with Balsamiq.