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# Which ticketing capabilities should be native, configurable or integrated?

> A ticketing capability should be native when it is central to inventory or transaction integrity, configurable when operators need to adapt predictable bus

**A ticketing capability should be native when it is central to inventory or transaction integrity, configurable when operators need to adapt predictable business rules, and integrated when a specialist external system can perform the function without compromising the booking journey.**

## The three delivery choices

**Native** functionality is supplied and maintained within the core platform. Typical examples include event inventory, reservations, orders and ticket validity. Putting these functions behind several loosely coordinated vendors can create reconciliation and overselling risks.

**Configurable** functionality uses built-in settings rather than custom code. Examples can include fees, booking limits, presale eligibility, settlement workflows and customer communications. The important test is whether a business user can change a rule safely and whether changes are recorded.

**Integrated** functionality connects specialist tools through APIs, webhooks, embedded components or scheduled data transfers. Identity systems, CRM, analytics, payment services and marketing platforms may fit this model, depending on the operator.

| Decision question                                          | Best initial candidate                   |
| ---------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------- |
| **Must two buyers never claim the same seat?**             | Native transactional control             |
| **Must a venue set different presale windows?**            | Configuration                            |
| **Must an external finance system receive order records?** | Integration                              |
| **Must a customer change seats in a bespoke app?**         | Native booking functions exposed by APIs |

## How should buyers choose native, configurable or integrated ticketing capabilities?

Score each capability for operational criticality, required differentiation, maintenance burden, speed of change and the consequence of an outage. A payment gateway might be external, but the order system must still handle pending, failed and completed payments coherently. A seat map can be embedded, while the booking authority remains central.

## What should buyers ask suppliers about native and integrated ticketing functions?

Ask which functions are standard, which are settings, which require bespoke development and which depend on a third party. Request a dependency diagram and a realistic change request. A capability appearing on a feature list says little about how costly it will be to operate.

## Related explanations

#### [Which ticketing technology capabilities should you build or buy?](/strategy-selection/which-ticketing-technology-capabilities-should-you-build-or-buy)

Strategy & Selection · Build or buy

#### [What makes a ticketing platform enterprise-grade?](/platforms-infrastructure/what-makes-a-ticketing-platform-enterprise-grade)

Platforms & Infrastructure · Evaluating platform design

[More in Platforms & Infrastructure →](/platforms-infrastructure)