How to Automate Acumatica Data Export (No API Required)

Introduction

Acumatica is a leading cloud-based ERP system designed for mid-market companies, offering comprehensive business management across industries including construction, manufacturing, distribution, and services. While Acumatica provides API access, browser automation offers a powerful solution for automating construction project accounting and billing, syncing field service data with back-office ERP, and streamlining business workflows when direct API access is limited or unavailable.

Why Use Browser Automation for Acumatica Data Export?

• Limited API Access: Acumatica has restricted API access for many complex operations and reporting functions
• Project Accounting: Automate construction project accounting and billing for accurate project financials
• Field Service Integration: Sync field service data with back-office ERP for real-time operations
• Dashboard-Only Features: Some advanced analytics and reporting tools are only available through the web interface
• Historical Data: Easier access to older transactions and reports beyond API limits
• Real-Time Sync: Automate real-time synchronization of field service and project data
• Bulk Operations: Process large volumes of project and service data for reporting and analysis

Setting Up Acumatica Data Export Automation

Here's how to automate data collection from Acumatica using browser automation:

import { chromium } from 'playwright';

const response = await fetch("https://api.anchorbrowser.io/api/sessions", {
  method: "POST",
  headers: {
    "anchor-api-key": "YOUR_API_KEY",
    "Content-Type": "application/json",
  },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    'headless': false,
    'proxy': {
      'type': 'residential',
      'country': 'US'
    }
  }),
});

const { id } = await response.json();
const connectionString = `wss://connect.anchorbrowser.io?apiKey=YOUR_API_KEY&sessionId=${id}`;

const browser = await chromium.connectOverCDP(connectionString);
const context = browser.contexts()[0];
const ai = context.serviceWorkers()[0];
const page = context.pages()[0];

// Navigate to Acumatica
await page.goto("https://your-acumatica-instance.com");

// Login with AI agent
await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
  prompt: 'Log in to Acumatica using the provided credentials. Wait for the dashboard to fully load.'
}));

Use Case 1: Automate Construction Project Accounting and Billing

Automate construction project accounting and billing for accurate project financials:

const automateProjectAccounting = async (page, ai, projectCriteria) => {
  // Navigate to project accounting module
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Navigate to the Project Accounting or Projects module in Acumatica'
  }));
  
  // Set project parameters
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: `Set project parameters: projects ${projectCriteria.projects.join(', ')}, date range ${projectCriteria.startDate} to ${projectCriteria.endDate}, billing status ${projectCriteria.billingStatus || 'all'}`
  }));
  
  // Execute project accounting report
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Run project accounting report and wait for results to load'
  }));
  
  // Wait for results
  await page.waitForLoadState('networkidle');
  
  // Extract project accounting data
  const projectData = await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Extract project accounting data including: project number, project name, contract amount, billed amount, costs, revenue, profit margins, change orders, retention amounts, payment applications, and project status. Return as structured JSON array.'
  }));
  
  // Export project accounting report
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Export project accounting report as Excel or CSV, including all projects and financial details'
  }));
  
  const download = await page.waitForEvent('download');
  const path = await download.path();
  
  return {
    projects: JSON.parse(projectData),
    exportPath: path,
    reportDate: new Date().toISOString()
  };
};

Use Case 2: Sync Field Service Data with Back-Office ERP

Automate the synchronization of field service data with back-office ERP for real-time operations:

const syncFieldServiceData = async (page, ai, serviceCriteria) => {
  const serviceUpdates = [];
  
  // Navigate to field service section
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Navigate to the Field Service or Service Management section in Acumatica'
  }));
  
  // Set service filters
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: `Set filters: date range ${serviceCriteria.startDate} to ${serviceCriteria.endDate}, service status ${serviceCriteria.status || 'all'}, technician ${serviceCriteria.technician || 'all'}`
  }));
  
  // Execute search
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Click Search or Filter and wait for results to load'
  }));
  
  // Wait for results
  await page.waitForLoadState('networkidle');
  
  // Extract field service data
  const serviceData = await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Extract field service data including: service call number, customer name, service date, technician name, service type, labor hours, materials used, service completion status, billing status, and service notes. Return as structured JSON array.'
  }));
  
  const services = JSON.parse(serviceData);
  
  // Sync each service with back-office ERP
  for (const service of services) {
    // Get service details
    await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
      prompt: `Open service call ${service.serviceCallNumber} to view full details`
    }));
    
    // Extract full service information
    const serviceDetails = await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
      prompt: 'Extract full service details including: service call number, customer information, service location, technician details, service items (labor, materials, travel), time tracking, completion status, billing details, and service history. Return as structured JSON data.'
    }));
    
    const serviceDetailsData = JSON.parse(serviceDetails);
    
    serviceUpdates.push({
      serviceCallNumber: service.serviceCallNumber,
      customer: service.customerName,
      serviceDate: service.serviceDate,
      status: service.completionStatus,
      serviceData: serviceDetailsData,
      lastSynced: new Date().toISOString()
    });
    
    // Sync with back-office ERP (example: update inventory, create invoices)
    if (serviceDetailsData.completionStatus === 'completed') {
      console.log(`Service call ${service.serviceCallNumber} completed - ready for ERP sync`);
      // Add integration logic here to update back-office ERP systems
    }
    
    // Small delay between services
    await page.waitForTimeout(1000);
  }
  
  return serviceUpdates;
};

Exporting Financial Reports

Export financial reports and accounting data:

const exportFinancialReports = async (page, ai, reportType, dateRange) => {
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Navigate to Reports or Financial Reports section'
  }));
  
  // Set report parameters
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: `Run ${reportType} report for date range ${dateRange.start} to ${dateRange.end}`
  }));
  
  // Export report
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Export report as Excel or PDF and wait for download to complete'
  }));
  
  const download = await page.waitForEvent('download');
  return await download.path();
};

Collecting Transaction Data

Extract transaction and accounting data for analysis:

const collectTransactionData = async (page, ai, criteria) => {
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: `Navigate to transactions and set filters: transaction type ${criteria.type}, date range ${criteria.startDate} to ${criteria.endDate}, branch ${criteria.branch || 'all'}`
  }));
  
  // Extract transaction data
  const transactions = await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Extract transaction data including: transaction number, date, type, branch, account, amount, currency, reference, department, and description. Return as structured JSON array.'
  }));
  
  return JSON.parse(transactions);
};

Generating Custom Reports

Create custom reports with specific filters and criteria:

const generateCustomReport = async (page, ai, reportConfig) => {
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Navigate to Custom Reports or Generic Inquiries'
  }));
  
  // Configure report
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: `Create custom report: report type ${reportConfig.type}, criteria ${JSON.stringify(reportConfig.criteria)}, fields ${JSON.stringify(reportConfig.fields)}, date range ${reportConfig.startDate} to ${reportConfig.endDate}`
  }));
  
  // Execute and export
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Execute report, wait for results, then export as Excel or CSV'
  }));
  
  const download = await page.waitForEvent('download');
  return await download.path();
};

Best Practices for Acumatica Automation

• Security: Use secure credential storage and enable 2FA handling for Acumatica system access
• Rate Limiting: Add delays between requests to avoid overwhelming the system and account restrictions
• Data Validation: Verify exported data completeness and accuracy before processing, especially for project accounting
• Error Handling: Implement retry logic for transient failures and network issues
• Transaction Safety: Ensure all data extraction is read-only and doesn't modify system data
• Project Accounting: Verify change orders and retention amounts in project billing reports
• Field Service Sync: Coordinate field service syncs with inventory and billing cycles
• Compliance: Ensure all data handling meets mid-market security and compliance requirements
• Regular Updates: Monitor for changes in Acumatica's interface and update scripts accordingly

Handling Authentication

Acumatica may require multi-factor authentication. Here's how to handle it:

const handleAcumaticaAuth = async (page, ai, credentials) => {
  // Navigate to login
  await page.goto("https://your-acumatica-instance.com");
  
  // Enter credentials
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: `Enter company ${credentials.company}, username ${credentials.username} and password, then click Login`
  }));
  
  // Handle 2FA if required
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'If a 2FA prompt appears, wait for the code to be provided and enter it'
  }));
  
  // Wait for dashboard
  await page.waitForLoadState('networkidle');
};

Resources

• Anchor Browser Documentation - Complete API reference and guides
• Anchor Browser Playground - Try browser automation in your browser

Conclusion

Browser automation provides a flexible alternative to API access for Acumatica data export. By leveraging intelligent browser agents, you can automate construction project accounting and billing, sync field service data with back-office ERP, and streamline business workflows that aren't easily achievable through API calls alone. Whether you need to manage project accounting, synchronize field service data, or generate custom reports, browser automation enables efficient data management from Acumatica while maintaining mid-market security and compliance.

Start automating your Acumatica workflows today and streamline your business management processes!