Ticketing platform has launched an API that will let other ticketing websites pick up events from Insider and sell them independently through their own websites and apps. Insider will record all the actual ticket sales from these multiple websites with the onus of collecting payments and paying the event organizers.

The company mentions that it is already in talks with a few partners to start distributing the events on those platforms. Interested platforms/website owners, can mail the company for the API. The API docs are available here. As of now, it’s not clear how the revenue will be shared with third parties involved.

This is a pretty interesting problem for Insider to take on. The company mentions that for small events, event organizers end up listing on a single platform for avoiding double bookings of the same seats and other such logistic problems, resulting in such events having an average fill rate of less than 40%. The API will require organizers to list only on Insider, which can then be listed again by other platforms. Keeping the bookings centralized at Insider will avoid issues like double booking the same seat.

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Ticket transfers: In July last year, Insider introduced a new feature that would let users transfer their tickets to Insider as well as non Insider users without going through any paperwork. Customers that purchase from the website would have an option to transfer the purchased item to other users via the website.

MediaNama’s take: Insider’s API is a pretty good idea, and should help it sell more tickets. What will be interesting to see is how many mainstream websites, like BookMyShow, actually make use of this API as opposed to small players. Overall, it would be beneficial for event organizers and the industry in general, if ticket bookings can be made on any ticketing website as events get more exposure and sell more. It would be useful if major players like BookMyShow follow this model, however, we really doubt it as the company would lose exclusivity.

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