How to Automate BambooHR and Payroll Data Export (No API Required)

Introduction

BambooHR is an HR platform used for employee data, time off, onboarding, and—with BambooHR Payroll or integrated payroll—payroll processing. While BambooHR offers some API access for HR data, payroll reporting and export features may be limited or only available in the web app. Browser automation can serve as an effective alternative for exporting employee data, payroll runs, time off reports, and workforce analytics when API access is restricted or not available for your workflow.

Why Use Browser Automation for BambooHR Payroll Data Export?

• Limited Payroll API: BambooHR's payroll and reporting features may not be fully exposed via the API for all modules
• Dashboard-Only Reports: Custom reports, payroll summaries, and export options are often only available in the web portal
• Historical Data: Access older payroll, time off, and HR data beyond API or manual export limits
• Custom Exports: Generate reports by date range, department, or employee when the portal doesn't offer an API
• Payroll and Tax: Export pay runs, tax documents, and deduction reports for accounting and compliance
• Time Off and PTO: Pull time off balances and PTO reports when no API is available
• Employee Directory and HR: Bulk or custom employee exports for sync with other systems

Setting Up BambooHR Data Export Automation

Here's how to automate data collection from BambooHR 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 BambooHR (your company subdomain)
await page.goto("https://yourcompany.bamboohr.com");

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

Exporting Employee and HR Data

Automate the export of employee and HR data from BambooHR:

const exportBambooHREmployees = async (page, ai, options) => {
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Navigate to the Employee list or Directory, then to Reports or Export'
  }));
  
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: `Apply filters if needed. Then run or export the report for ${options.reportType || 'employee data'} (e.g., CSV or Excel).`
  }));
  
  const download = await page.waitForEvent('download');
  return await download.path();
};

Exporting Payroll and Pay Runs

Export payroll runs and pay history when no API is available:

const exportBambooHRPayroll = async (page, ai, dateRange) => {
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Navigate to the Payroll section (or Benefits & Payroll), then to Pay Runs or Payroll History'
  }));
  
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: `Set the date or pay period filter to ${dateRange.start} to ${dateRange.end}`
  }));
  
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Click Export or Download, select CSV or Excel if available, and wait for the download to complete.'
  }));
  
  const download = await page.waitForEvent('download');
  return await download.path();
};

Time Off and PTO Reports

Pull time off and PTO data from BambooHR:

const exportBambooHRTimeOff = async (page, ai, dateRange) => {
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Navigate to the Time Off or Reports section'
  }));
  
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: `Set the date range to ${dateRange.start} to ${dateRange.end} if applicable`
  }));
  
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Export or download the time off report (balances, requests, or history). Wait for the download to complete.'
  }));
  
  const download = await page.waitForEvent('download');
  return await download.path();
};

Tax Documents and Payroll Reports

Download tax documents and payroll reports:

const exportBambooHRTaxReports = async (page, ai, reportType, yearOrPeriod) => {
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Navigate to the Payroll Tax or Reports section'
  }));
  
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: `Select ${reportType} for ${yearOrPeriod} and trigger the export or download`
  }));
  
  const download = await page.waitForEvent('download');
  return await download.path();
};

Custom Reports and Report Builder

Run and export custom reports from BambooHR's report builder when only available in the portal:

const exportBambooHRCustomReport = async (page, ai, reportName) => {
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Navigate to the Reports section or Report Builder'
  }));
  
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: `Find and run the report: ${reportName}. Then export or download it (CSV/Excel). Wait for the download.`
  }));
  
  const download = await page.waitForEvent('download');
  return await download.path();
};

Best Practices for BambooHR Portal Automation

• Security: Use secure credential storage and support 2FA or SSO if BambooHR requires it
• PII and Payroll: Treat employee and payroll data as sensitive; ensure access controls and encryption
• Rate Limiting: Add delays between requests to avoid lockouts or triggering security controls
• Error Handling: Implement retries for transient failures and session timeouts
• Subdomain: BambooHR uses company subdomains (e.g., yourcompany.bamboohr.com); configure for your instance
• Terms of Use: Comply with BambooHR's terms of use and any contractual restrictions on automated access

Handling BambooHR Authentication

BambooHR typically uses email/password; some accounts use SSO. Example flow:

const handleBambooHRAuth = async (page, ai, credentials, subdomain) => {
  const baseUrl = subdomain ? `https://${subdomain}.bamboohr.com` : 'https://www.bamboohr.com';
  await page.goto(baseUrl);
  
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: `Enter email: ${credentials.email} and password: ${credentials.password}, then click Login or Sign in`
  }));
  
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'If 2FA or verification is required, enter the code from the provided method.'
  }));
  
  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 BambooHR Payroll API access for employee, payroll, time off, and custom report export. By using browser automation, you can automate data export when the BambooHR portal does not expose a full API for your needs. With attention to security and terms of use, you can streamline BambooHR data workflows.

Start automating your BambooHR and payroll data collection and simplify your HR reporting.