Using Third-Party Validation with PassEntry

PassEntry’s Scans API lets you validate passes at physical locations, whether for event access, membership verification, ticket validation, or loyalty program check-ins. By default, PassEntry handles validation internally, but for businesses needing more flexibility, third-party validation allows you to define your own rules and logic.

You can now also manage loyalty in the same request. That means your system can update a customer’s loyalty points or stamp their card while validating their pass – all in one go.

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What is Third-Party Validation?

With third-party validation, your system takes full control over how passes are validated. Instead of PassEntry checking pass validity, every scan is sent to your own endpoint, where you decide the logic.

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PassEntry Internal vs. Third-Party Validation

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How to Enable Third-Party Validation

To start using third-party validation, follow these simple steps:

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1. Ensure You Have a Reader Set Up

Third-party validation is currently supported only on PassEntry readers. If you haven’t set up a reader yet, follow this guide to do so.

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2. Update Your Reader Configuration

1. Go to PassEntry Dashboard → Readers → Reader Configuration.
2. Find the Validation Settings section.
3. Change the validation type to Third-Party.
4. Enter an HTTPS URL of your third-party validation endpoint (this is where PassEntry will send scans for validation).
5. Include a Bearer token (this is a token that the reader will send to your endpoint to authenticate itself).

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3. Apply Changes & Activate Third-Party Validation

• Once you update the settings, the PassEntry reader will log out automatically and VTAP reader’s configuration will be automatically updated.
• On the next login/reboot, it will use the new validation settings, sending all scans to your third-party endpoint.
• After validation, scans will still be logged in PassEntry for tracking and reporting (only on PassEntry readers).

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How It Works

1. A pass is scanned using a PassEntry reader or VTAP reader (via NFC or barcode).
2. Instead of PassEntry validating the pass, the scan is sent to your third-party endpoint.
3. Your system processes the validation using custom business logic.
4. The reader receives a response from your system and displays any necessary instructions (e.g., “Access Granted” or “Invalid Ticket”).
5. The scan is logged in PassEntry for visibility and reporting (only on PassEntry readers).

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Third-Party Endpoint Structure

Your custom validation endpoint must be able to receive scan data and respond with validation results.

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Reader Request Format

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PassEntry Reader

{
    "scan": {
        "scanValue": "some-scan-value",
        "readerId": "passentry_reader_id",
        "scanType": "nfc",
        "loyalty": {
            "balance": -10,
            "message": "You have redeemed 10 points"
        }
    }
}

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VTAP Reader

{
    "scan": {
        "scanValue": "some-scan-value",
        "readerId": "CC123456",
        "readerType": "VTAP",
        "scanData": {
            "IP": "Local IP of device",
            "location": "Reader Location",
            "passtype": "A",
            "payload": "d9ae223c9e6cd57e18f3f61b6198cce756de8b2b",
            "rdrparam1": "Optional Reader Info 1",
            "rdrparam2": "Optional Reader Info 2",
            "serialno": "CC123459",
            "SSID": "Connected WiFi"
        }
    }
}

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Your Endpoint Response Format

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PassEntry Reader

{
    "validationResponse": {
        "status": "failed",
        "statusDetail": "Subscription expired",
        "passId": "65844fnrjkfjfkel4h4j23",
        "readerInstructions": {
            "message": "Sorry, we can't let you in"
        }
    }
}

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VTAP Reader

{
    "validationResponse": {
        "status": "failed",
        "statusDetail": "Subscription expired",
        "passId": "65844fnrjkfjfkel4h4j23",
        "readerInstructions": {
            "VTAPaction": {
              "led": "?LEDR 00FF00,100,100,3",
              "beep": "?BEEPR 50,50,2",
              "message": "Sorry, we can't let you in",
              "success": false
            }
        }
    }
}

For more information on VTAP actions, see the VTAP API documentation.