Universal SmartOrder is the trade ordering system of Universal Destinations & Experiences, the Comcast NBCUniversal division behind Universal Orlando, Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal Studios Japan, Universal Beijing, Universal Studios Singapore, Epic Universe, Universal Kids Resort and Universal Horror Unleashed. It is a web layer over Gateway Ticketing's Galaxy system through which Universal parks distribute admission to trade buyers.
Connecting Universal SmartOrder to Ventrata lets you resell products from operators that use Universal SmartOrder as their booking system. Ventrata reads their live availability and prices from Universal SmartOrder, and every booking you take is created directly in the operator's Universal SmartOrder account.
To learn more about Universal SmartOrder, visit udx.com.
📒 NOTE
This connection is in testing and may not be available to all users.
‼️ IMPORTANT
The Universal SmartOrder API is a custom API that does not follow the OCTO API standard, which may limit certain functionality and capabilities.
Primary website | |
Tags | Custom / Proprietary Operator System |
Connection features | Availability Sync · Pricing Sync · Bookings Sync |
Developed by | Ventrata (using Universal SmartOrder API) |
This operator connection (also called a backend) lets you resell products from operators that use Universal SmartOrder as their primary booking system, with every booking created directly in Universal SmartOrder. Features of this connection include:
Availability Sync – live availability comes from the operator's Universal SmartOrder account.
Pricing Sync – prices come from Universal SmartOrder, or you set prices in Ventrata.
Bookings Sync – bookings post from Ventrata to Universal SmartOrder, and Universal SmartOrder issues the tickets or vouchers.
Universal SmartOrder's external API used for this connection is a custom API that does not follow the OCTO API standard, which may limit certain functionality and capabilities.
Creating the Universal SmartOrder 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 Universal SmartOrder Customer ID, Client ID and Client Secret (production credentials) for the operator. See the steps below.
A commercial relationship with Universal, on a prepayment account. Arranged credit is not currently supported by this connection.
Universal usually requires tickets to follow a specific format. Get the requirements from your Universal contact and configure a Voucher Template accordingly before setting up the connection.
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
Contact Universal to obtain your SmartOrder API production credentials.
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 Universal SmartOrder and enter the Universal SmartOrder Customer ID, Client ID and Client Secret (production credentials).
Press Update Operator.
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 Universal SmartOrder, and Backend Pricing to use prices from Universal SmartOrder.
Press Update Product.
📒 NOTE
Universal SmartOrder sends both retail and net prices. With Backend Pricing ticked, Ventrata records the retail price as your selling price and the net price as your cost price, whatever cost percentage is set on the operator.
Check Backend Availability to pull availability from SmartOrder and Backend Pricing to pull pricing.
Without those, the product uses the availability and pricing set in Ventrata but still posts bookings to SmartOrder.
Mapping Products to Universal SmartOrder
‼️ IMPORTANT
Mapping tells Ventrata which Universal SmartOrder 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 Universal SmartOrder product, option and units from the dropdowns, which Ventrata loads from Universal SmartOrder. 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 Universal SmartOrder account.
Managing the Universal SmartOrder Connection
Update the mapping when the operator changes products, options or units in Universal SmartOrder.
Replace the key on the operator if Universal SmartOrder 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 Universal SmartOrder.
Connection Features Detailed
This section is for anyone who wants to know exactly how the Universal SmartOrder connection works. Here the direction is the opposite of a reseller connection: Ventrata calls Universal SmartOrder, using Universal SmartOrder API. For each feature, it explains which calls Ventrata makes, when, and what that means for you.
In short: Ventrata asks Universal SmartOrder for availability and prices whenever someone looks at a backend-connected product, and creates every booking in the operator's Universal SmartOrder account. Universal SmartOrder doesn't send changes back to Ventrata.
Timings are typical for Universal SmartOrder and rounded, and they can change.
Product Mapping | ✅ |
You map each Ventrata product, option and unit to the operator's Universal SmartOrder 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 Universal SmartOrder. Ask them to. |
Content Sync | ❌ |
Ventrata doesn't import product content from Universal SmartOrder. Ventrata doesn't import product content from Universal SmartOrder. You create and describe the products in Ventrata yourself. |
Availability Sync | ✅ |
With Backend Availability on, Ventrata checks the operator's live availability in Universal SmartOrder. This works as follows:
What this means for you: customers book against the operator's live Universal SmartOrder availability, so you can't oversell a slot the operator has already sold elsewhere. |
Pricing Sync | ✅ |
With Backend Pricing on, Ventrata takes prices from Universal SmartOrder. This works as follows:
Universal SmartOrder sends both retail and net prices. With Backend Pricing ticked, Ventrata records the retail price as your selling price and the net price as your cost price, whatever cost percentage is set on the operator. |
Promotions Sync | ❌ |
Promotions aren't sent to Universal SmartOrder. Promotions aren't sent to Universal SmartOrder. 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 Universal SmartOrder account. This works as follows:
Posts bookings, updates and cancellations from Ventrata to SmartOrder. Receives vouchers/tickets from SmartOrder and issues them to your customers.
‼️ IMPORTANT – Bookings sync one way, from Ventrata to Universal SmartOrder. If the operator changes or cancels a booking in Universal SmartOrder, 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 Universal SmartOrder. Pickup and drop-off details aren't passed to Universal SmartOrder. Share them with the operator another way if a product needs them. |
Custom Questions Sync | ❌ |
Answers to your booking questions aren't passed to Universal SmartOrder. Answers to your booking questions aren't passed to Universal SmartOrder. Share them with the operator another way if they need them. |
Extras Sync | ❌ |
Extras and add-ons aren't booked in Universal SmartOrder. Extras and add-ons aren't booked in Universal SmartOrder. Only the main product, option and units are. |
Redemption Sync | ❌ |
Redemptions and other status changes in Universal SmartOrder aren't sent back to Ventrata after a booking is confirmed. Redemptions and other status changes in Universal SmartOrder aren't sent back to Ventrata after a booking is confirmed. |
Pass Walkup Scanning Sync | ❌ |
Pass walk-up scanning isn't available with Universal SmartOrder. Pass walk-up scanning isn't available with Universal SmartOrder. |
Gift Card Sync | ❌ |
Ventrata gift cards aren't passed to Universal SmartOrder. Ventrata gift cards aren't passed to Universal SmartOrder. Gift card payments stay in Ventrata. |
✅ supported · ❌ not supported
Good to know: limits and details of the Universal SmartOrder connection
Good to know: limits and details of the Universal SmartOrder connection
Live availability: availability comes from Universal SmartOrder as people browse.
One-way bookings: changes the operator makes in Universal SmartOrder don't reach Ventrata.
Custom API: Universal SmartOrder's API isn't OCTO, so some features may be limited compared with OCTO backends.
SmartOrder is a custom web API layer on top of the Galaxy (Gateway Ticketing) system run by Universal Studios Hollywood, for resellers of Universal Studios Hollywood and other select Universal parks.
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 Universal SmartOrder Customer ID, Client ID and Client Secret (production credentials) 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 Universal SmartOrder. 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 Universal SmartOrder. If the issue persists, contact our Technical Support.
I get an error when saving the operator's backend configuration.
I get an error when saving the operator's backend configuration.
The SmartOrder API production credentials (Customer ID, Client ID, Client Secret) are most likely not valid. Double-check them with Universal. If the issue persists, contact support.
There is no Backend Connected checkbox in the product settings.
There is no Backend Connected checkbox in the product settings.
The operator selected on the product most likely has no backend configured. Check the backend configuration and try again. If the issue persists, contact support.
The product (PLU) I want to map is not in the dropdown.
The product (PLU) I want to map is not in the dropdown.
The dropdown is pulled from SmartOrder based on the PLUs Universal made available to you. Double-check with Universal if you are missing a specific product.
Useful Resources
📚 More about Ventrata connections
Partner Information
Universal City Development Partners, Ltd. d/b/a Universal Orlando Resort; Universal City Studios LLC d/b/a Universal Studios Hollywood; Universal Studios LLC d/b/a Universal CityWalk Hollywood; Universal City Travel Partners d/b/a Universal Parks & Resorts Vacation
1000 Universal Studios Plaza
Orlando, FL 32819, USA
Ventrata Partner ID: a918dfee-fc29-46f9-b017-b00be9331dbf