Integrating the ITI Digital DXP Modules in a Simpleview Site

ITI Digital has worked with multiple destinations to enhance the visitor experience by adding the DXP content via Simpleview CMS. Below are examples of integrations utilizing the widget and JSON feed setup options as well as a step-by-step tutorial on adding the embed code to the Simpleview CMS. We are happy to discuss each of these implementation options with your team to determine which works best for your destination website experience.

Information in this article:

• JSON Feed Integration
• Notes on DTN
• Widget Integration
• Search: Widget and Site Search
  
• Step-by-Step How-To guide for widget integration

JSON Feed Integration

• Integrate DXP content with existing Simpleview content to prevent re-entering the listings
• Control over a new front-end design of the event calendar, or no change needed to your existing event calendar design
• Simpleview is very familiar with our product and can work with you to integrate in this method
• Need more information?  Best practices for using the JSON feed can found by reading this article:Best Practices for Simpleview CRM when using JSON Feed

Example ITI Digital Client:

Loudoun County, VA

https://www.visitloudoun.org/events/

Notes on DTN

If you are a Simpleview DTN customer, be aware that DTN cannot adjust sponsored posts (or pin) items in the ITI provided embed modules.  It's a good idea to make sure that those types of DTN placements are not utilized OR you may opt for the provided JSON feeds mentioned above.  Likewise, if you are utilizing reporting in the Simpleview CRM for Events or Listings, that data will not contain any items related to automated data delivery systems that are not incorporated through JSON integration which requires Simpleview development to incorporate.

Widget Integration

• Turnkey solution with all features including: event/place submission form, category sorting, menu features, etc.
• Embed a simple widget code into the Simpleview CMS
• Clear, uniform method to navigate Events (or other ITI modules) in a modern interface that will automatically upgrade as new features are released.

Example ITI Digital Client:

Tour Cayuga, NY

https://www.tourcayuga.com/events/

Information on Site Search and ITI Widgets:

The turn-key ITI embeddable widgets have a built-in search feature. However, it is important to note, that with any CMS, site search functionality varies drastically from system to system, thus there is no uniform way to integrate the results into the data structure of the CMS itself without developer intervention.  If you wish your events (or places module) to be searchable in the global site search, your Simpleview development team can utilize the data in the JSON feed to compliment the turnkey widgets and deliver data into the site search.  The JSON feeds contain all of the relevant information utilized to display an event or place.

How-To Integrate ITI Widgets in Simpleview CMS: Step-by-Step

This section will give you a step-by-step guide to implement an ITI widget.

Login to your Simpleview CMS.   Enter the site you wish to update (if you have more than one).

Navigate to the page you wish to add the widget and click the Edit Content button.  
For this example we will be placing the Events Widget, though this process applies to all modules.

Find the location on the page where you wish to add the Events Calendar and Click "ADD" in that container:

Select Add > Widget:

From the Widgets menu, click Utilities then select Embed:

Add the embed code for your events module in the window that appears and make sure "Full Width" is selected. Click Save.   

Note: The embed codes are provided in a document sent by ITI as soon as the modules are configured and ready for general use.  The initial codes will generally follow the same navigation layout as is used on your site (for setup) for Places and Events, but, you can also add custom category events/places in the future yourself and generate the codes directly in the DXP platform.

The widget will appear at the bottom of that container.  Drag and drop it where you would like to see it on the page.

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Pro-Tip:  If, once you preview the module (later in this exercise), you find need of extra space below the ITI widget, you can add an empty Text widget directly underneath the Utilities - Embed widget  (you can add two spaces in the content of the text box so it isn't "empty" and ignored)

Go back to the top of the page, add draft notes if you wish, and click "Save Draft"

You should end up back at the Page Drafts page.  Click Preview to test the page.  Share the preview link as needed for approval.

If the page looks as intended and you are ready to publish, click on "Edit Page Content" again (shown above) and select "Publish"  (or set a date and time to publish)

The same basic process of integration for widgets is used by all ITI modules (Events, Places, Trip-Planner, Itineraries, UGC).