New Integrations Tab

The new integration tab in Urbantz is designed to enhance the security and flexibility of integrations with other systems. It introduces support for OAuth2, providing a more secure storage solution for credentials and preventing platform users from viewing passwords in the UI.

This enhancement is part of Urbantz's effort to ensure that integrations with the platform are both secure and user-friendly. Users can configure their authentication credentials once and utilize them across various features within Urbantz.

Access: Administration -> Platform -> Integrations

The Integrations tab has put the Authentification, Webhooks, SMS Gateway and Carrier Gateway information and configurations together in one place.

The Authentification sub-tab in Urbantz is a feature that manages user authentication, ensuring secure access to the platform. Authentication is handled locally and checked against the hashed password stored in the database. For enterprise contracts, it's possible to use the Single Sign-On (SSO) module, supporting OAuth2 and OpenID Connect, allowing users to log in via SSO on the web platform. The platform enforces password security rules, which can be customized to match internal policies of the customer. These rules include requirements like a minimum of 8 characters and the inclusion of a special character in the password.

Additionally, the platform supports different user statuses. For instance, if a user enters an incorrect password multiple times, they are automatically banned. Platform managers have the ability to validate, ban, or deactivate users, especially when a user leaves the organization. Urbantz also offers an API to automate the process of user creation and updates, which can be linked to an organization's Active Directory for automatic management of user statuses.

The Webhooks sub-tab in Urbantz is used to configure webhooks for various events within the platform. Webhooks are HTTP callbacks that notify your system in real-time when events occur in Urbantz. This feature is essential for integrating Urbantz with external systems, allowing for automated data flows and real-time updates.

Events that can trigger webhooks include the creation, update, and closure of tickets, as well as the creation, validation, ongoing status, and completion of rounds. Each event type has specific data associated with it, and you can configure the platform to send this data to a specified URL as the events occur.

For instance, when a ticket is created or updated, or when a round is created, validated, or completed, the corresponding webhook can be triggered, sending information directly to your server or specified endpoint. 

You can also specify the conditions under which these webhooks fire, making the system highly customizable to fit specific operational needs. If webhooks fail to deliver, there is an option to activate notifications to inform you of the delivery failure.

The SMS Gateway sub-tab in Urbantz allows customers to manage SMS notifications sent to recipients. Customers can choose to use Urbantz's integrated SMS gateway service. The cost varies based on the recipient's location and the home network of the destination phone number. Urbantz supports various SMS providers and can integrate any provider that uses a REST API. A message template is defined, and the content along with the phone number is sent to the SMS provider.

For customers who prefer not to manage a contract with an SMS provider directly, Urbantz offers an integrated service, where Urbantz handles the SMS delivery and bills the customer at the end of each month. 

The Carrier Gateway tab in Urbantz is designed to facilitate the integration of external carriers with minimal effort, simplifying the configuration process for retailers. This gateway acts as the central point of communication, standardizing interactions between retailers and various carriers, ensuring that all communications are uniform regardless of the carrier used.

Key features of the Carrier Gateway include:

• Adapter System: Adapters translate the Urbantz platform's data into the carrier's format and vice versa, allowing seamless data exchange between different systems.
• Full Integration Coverage: It covers the complete Urbantz flow from scheduling to execution, supporting carriers that offer time slots and execute deliveries.
• Ease of Configuration: Retailers can easily configure necessary fields like authentication keys and optional data, streamlining the setup process.
• Real-Time Updates: The gateway facilitates real-time updates between Urbantz and integrated carriers, enhancing operational efficiency.

This system is particularly beneficial for retailers seeking to expand their carrier options without extensive individual integrations, thereby reducing integration costs and time to market for new carrier services.