Dex is Headout's audio guide app, built around cinematic, story-led tours with original soundtracks where travelers choose their storyteller at landmarks such as the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, the British Museum, the Statue of Liberty, the Sagrada Família and Angkor Wat. Its built-in AI guide answers questions and identifies artworks on the spot, in seven languages and offline, so attractions can offer a Dex guide alongside admission.
Connecting Dex to Ventrata lets you resell products from operators that use Dex as their booking system. Ventrata reads their live availability from Dex, and every booking you take is created directly in the operator's Dex account.
To learn more about Dex, visit dex.headout.com.
‼️ IMPORTANT
Email is required. Headout delivers the Dex audio guide to the customer by email. Every Dex product in Ventrata must have Email set as a required contact field, otherwise the customer will not receive their guide.
📒 NOTE
If you want Headout to resell your own products, see the Headout Reseller Connection article instead.
Primary website | |
Tags | Custom / Proprietary Operator System |
Connection features | Availability Sync · Bookings Sync |
Developed by | Ventrata (using Dex OCTO API) |
This operator connection (also called a backend) lets you resell products from operators that use Dex as their primary booking system, with every booking created directly in Dex. Features of this connection include:
Availability Sync – live availability comes from the operator's Dex account.
Bookings Sync – bookings, updates and cancellations post from Ventrata to Dex, and Dex issues the tickets or vouchers.
Creating the Dex Connection
🔐 Required Role Permissions: See Operators, Modify Operators, See Products, Modify Products
Before you begin:
You must have a commercial agreement with the operator for their rates and terms.
You must have the OCTO API Key for the operator. See the steps below.
You have a commercial agreement with Headout to offer Dex audio guides. If you do not, contact your Headout account manager.
You must recreate the operator's products in Ventrata. See how to create products. The connection syncs availability, pricing and bookings, but doesn't create products in Ventrata.
Step 1: Configure the Operator in Ventrata
Your Headout contact gives you the OCTO API Key.
In the Ventrata Dashboard, go to Products → Operators and open the operator. If they don't exist yet, create them as an operator first.
In the Backend Partner section, select Dex and enter the OCTO API Key.
Leave the OCTO Endpoint field at its pre-filled default unless Headout tells you otherwise. The article does not state the value.
Press Update Operator.
📒 NOTE – Each OCTO API Key connects you to one operator. Set up each Dex operator separately.
Step 2: Connect Each Product
Open the operator's product in Products → Products and edit it. Check that Operator is set to this operator.
Tick Backend Connected. Tick Backend Availability to use availability from Dex.
Press Update Product.
Create the Dex products in Ventrata with pricing set according to your agreement with Headout. The connection posts bookings, but it does not create products or sync pricing automatically.
Check Backend Connected. Backend Availability is optional: Dex audio guides typically have unlimited availability, so you can enable or disable it.
Leave Backend Pricing unchecked, because pricing is not supported over the API.
In the product's contact field settings, set Email as required, then click Update Product.
Mapping Products to Dex
‼️ IMPORTANT
Mapping tells Ventrata which Dex product, option and units to check availability for and book. If a backend-connected product isn't mapped correctly, its bookings fail. A red highlight across the product row shows an incorrectly mapped product.
In the Ventrata Dashboard, go to Products → Products and open the product.
Open the Mappings tab. It appears once the product is set to Backend Connected.
For each Ventrata option and unit, select the matching Dex product, option and units from the dropdowns, which Ventrata loads from Dex. Don't leave any field empty.
Press Save Changes.
📗 TIP
Make a test booking after mapping, and ask the operator to confirm it arrived in their Dex account.
Managing the Dex Connection
Update the mapping when the operator changes products, options or units in Dex.
Replace the key on the operator if Dex or the operator issues a new one.
Switch Backend Availability or Backend Pricing off on a product to use Ventrata's own availability or prices instead. Bookings still post to Dex.
Connection Features Detailed
This section is for anyone who wants to know exactly how the Dex connection works. Here the direction is the opposite of a reseller connection: Ventrata calls Dex, using Dex OCTO API. For each feature, it explains which calls Ventrata makes, when, and what that means for you.
In short: Ventrata asks Dex for availability whenever someone looks at a backend-connected product, and creates every booking in the operator's Dex account. Dex doesn't send changes back to Ventrata.
Timings are typical for Dex and rounded, and they can change.
Product Mapping | ✅ |
You map each Ventrata product, option and unit to the operator's Dex product in the Ventrata Dashboard. This works as follows:
What this means for you: if something is missing from the dropdown, the operator hasn't made it available to you in Dex. Ask them to. |
Content Sync | ❌ |
Ventrata doesn't import product content from Dex. Ventrata doesn't import product content from Dex. You create and describe the products in Ventrata yourself. |
Availability Sync | ✅ |
With Backend Availability on, Ventrata checks the operator's live availability in Dex. This works as follows:
What this means for you: customers book against the operator's live Dex availability, so you can't oversell a slot the operator has already sold elsewhere. |
Pricing Sync | ❌ |
Ventrata doesn't read prices from Dex. Ventrata doesn't read prices from Dex. Products use the prices you set in Ventrata, and bookings still post to Dex. |
Promotions Sync | ❌ |
Promotions aren't sent to Dex. Promotions aren't sent to Dex. Your Ventrata promotions still apply to the price your customer pays in Ventrata. |
Bookings Sync | ✅ |
Bookings made in Ventrata for a backend-connected product are created in the operator's Dex account. This works as follows:
Bookings, booking changes and cancellations made in Ventrata for the Backend Connected product are sent to Dex by Headout, including the customer's email address.
‼️ IMPORTANT – Bookings sync one way, from Ventrata to Dex. If the operator changes or cancels a booking in Dex, Ventrata isn't notified. Ask the operator to tell you about any changes they make. |
Pickups/Dropoff Sync | ❌ |
Pickup and drop-off details aren't passed to Dex. Pickup and drop-off details aren't passed to Dex. Share them with the operator another way if a product needs them. |
Custom Questions Sync | ❌ |
Answers to your booking questions aren't passed to Dex. Answers to your booking questions aren't passed to Dex. Share them with the operator another way if they need them. |
Extras Sync | ❌ |
Extras and add-ons aren't booked in Dex. Extras and add-ons aren't booked in Dex. Only the main product, option and units are. |
Redemption Sync | ❌ |
Redemptions and other status changes in Dex aren't sent back to Ventrata after a booking is confirmed. Redemptions and other status changes in Dex aren't sent back to Ventrata after a booking is confirmed. Not supported. Redemption status is not sent back to Ventrata. |
Pass Walkup Scanning Sync | ❌ |
Pass walk-up scanning isn't available with Dex. Pass walk-up scanning isn't available with Dex. |
Gift Card Sync | ❌ |
Ventrata gift cards aren't passed to Dex. Ventrata gift cards aren't passed to Dex. Gift card payments stay in Ventrata. |
✅ supported · ❌ not supported
Good to know: limits and details of the Dex connection
Good to know: limits and details of the Dex connection
Live availability: availability comes from Dex as people browse.
One-way bookings: changes the operator makes in Dex don't reach Ventrata.
Guide delivery: Headout emails the Dex audio guide directly to the customer. Email must be a required contact field on the product.
The guide is provided and fulfilled by Headout.
Operators can offer Dex audio guides as a standalone product, as part of a package, or as an upsell or cross-sell.
FAQs
I get an error when I save the operator's backend configuration.
I get an error when I save the operator's backend configuration.
The OCTO API Key or endpoint is most likely incorrect. Check them with your operator. If the issue persists, contact our Technical Support.
There's no Backend Connected box in the product settings.
There's no Backend Connected box in the product settings.
The operator set on the product most likely doesn't have a backend configured. Check the operator's Backend Partner settings and try again. If the issue persists, contact our Technical Support.
The product, option or unit I want to map isn't in the dropdown.
The product, option or unit I want to map isn't in the dropdown.
The dropdowns list what the operator has made available to you in Dex. Ask the operator. If the issue persists, contact our Technical Support.
Bookings fail for a backend-connected product.
Bookings fail for a backend-connected product.
Check the product's mapping first: every option and unit must be mapped. Then check that the slot is still available in Dex. If the issue persists, contact our Technical Support.
Error when creating the operator.
Error when creating the operator.
Likely the OCTO API Key is incorrect. Double-check it with your Headout contact. If the issue persists, contact support.
Customer did not receive the audio guide.
Customer did not receive the audio guide.
Check that Email is a required contact field on the product and that the booking has a valid email address. If it does, contact your Headout contact with the booking reference.
The product/option/unit I want to map is not on the dropdown.
The product/option/unit I want to map is not on the dropdown.
The dropdown list is pulled from Dex by Headout based on the products Headout has made available to you. Double-check with your Headout contact. If the issue persists, contact support.
Useful Resources
📚 More about Ventrata connections
Partner Information
Headout Inc.
82 Nassau Street, #60351
New York, NY 10038, USA
Ventrata Partner ID: 01a0d78e-2b7c-7d13-b753-d831c9ff6b78