How to Automate Epicor Data Export (No API Required)

Introduction

Epicor is a leading ERP system designed for mid-market manufacturers and distributors, offering comprehensive business management across manufacturing, distribution, and service industries. While Epicor provides API access, browser automation offers a powerful solution for automating shop floor data collection and reporting, syncing customer orders with real-time production status, and streamlining manufacturing workflows when direct API access is limited or unavailable.

Why Use Browser Automation for Epicor Data Export?

• Limited API Access: Epicor has restricted API access for many complex operations and reporting functions
• Shop Floor Data: Automate shop floor data collection and reporting for manufacturing operations
• Order Integration: Sync customer orders with real-time production status for accurate fulfillment
• 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 orders and production data
• Bulk Operations: Process large volumes of manufacturing and order data for reporting and analysis

Setting Up Epicor Data Export Automation

Here's how to automate data collection from Epicor 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 Epicor
await page.goto("https://your-epicor-instance.com");

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

Use Case 1: Automate Shop Floor Data Collection and Reporting

Automate shop floor data collection and reporting for manufacturing operations:

const automateShopFloorCollection = async (page, ai, collectionCriteria) => {
  // Navigate to shop floor module
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Navigate to the Shop Floor or Manufacturing Execution module in Epicor'
  }));
  
  // Set collection parameters
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: `Set collection parameters: date range ${collectionCriteria.startDate} to ${collectionCriteria.endDate}, work centers ${collectionCriteria.workCenters.join(', ')}, production orders ${collectionCriteria.productionOrders.join(', ')}`
  }));
  
  // Execute data collection
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Run shop floor data collection and wait for results to load'
  }));
  
  // Wait for results
  await page.waitForLoadState('networkidle');
  
  // Extract shop floor data
  const shopFloorData = await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Extract shop floor data including: production order numbers, job numbers, work center names, operator names, start times, end times, quantities produced, quantities scrap, labor hours, machine hours, setup times, run times, material usage, quality metrics, and production status. Return as structured JSON array.'
  }));
  
  // Export shop floor report
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Export shop floor report as Excel or CSV, including all production data and metrics'
  }));
  
  const download = await page.waitForEvent('download');
  const path = await download.path();
  
  return {
    shopFloor: JSON.parse(shopFloorData),
    exportPath: path,
    collectionDate: new Date().toISOString()
  };
};

Use Case 2: Sync Customer Orders with Real-Time Production Status

Automate the synchronization of customer orders with real-time production status for accurate fulfillment:

const syncOrderProductionStatus = async (page, ai, orderCriteria) => {
  const orderUpdates = [];
  
  // Navigate to sales orders section
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Navigate to the Sales Orders or Order Management section in Epicor'
  }));
  
  // Set order filters
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: `Set filters: date range ${orderCriteria.startDate} to ${orderCriteria.endDate}, order status ${orderCriteria.status || 'all'}, customer ${orderCriteria.customer || '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');
  
  // Get order list
  const orderList = await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Extract order list including: order number, order date, customer name, order status, production status, item details, quantities ordered, quantities produced, delivery dates, and production schedule. Return as structured JSON array.'
  }));
  
  const orders = JSON.parse(orderList);
  
  // Sync each order with production status
  for (const order of orders) {
    // Get order details and production status
    await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
      prompt: `Open order ${order.orderNumber} to view production status and details`
    }));
    
    // Extract full order and production information
    const orderDetails = await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
      prompt: 'Extract full order details including: order number, customer information, order items (part number, quantity, price), production order references, production status (not started/in progress/completed), production completion percentage, production dates, delivery dates, and order fulfillment status. Return as structured JSON data.'
    }));
    
    const orderData = JSON.parse(orderDetails);
    
    orderUpdates.push({
      orderNumber: order.orderNumber,
      customer: order.customerName,
      orderDate: order.orderDate,
      productionStatus: orderData.productionStatus,
      completionPercentage: orderData.completionPercentage,
      orderData: orderData,
      lastSynced: new Date().toISOString()
    });
    
    // Sync with customer portals or systems (example: send to customer portal API)
    if (orderData.productionStatus === 'in progress') {
      console.log(`Order ${order.orderNumber} in production - ${orderData.completionPercentage}% complete`);
      // Add integration logic here to update customer portals
    } else if (orderData.productionStatus === 'completed') {
      console.log(`Order ${order.orderNumber} production completed - ready for shipment`);
      // Add integration logic here to notify customers
    }
    
    // Small delay between orders
    await page.waitForTimeout(1000);
  }
  
  return orderUpdates;
};

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}, company ${criteria.company || 'all'}`
  }));
  
  // Extract transaction data
  const transactions = await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Extract transaction data including: transaction number, date, type, company, 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 Report Writer'
  }));
  
  // 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 Epicor Automation

• Security: Use secure credential storage and enable 2FA handling for Epicor 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 shop floor data
• 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
• Shop Floor Accuracy: Verify production quantities and quality metrics in shop floor reports
• Order Sync: Coordinate order syncs with production scheduling cycles
• Compliance: Ensure all data handling meets manufacturing security and compliance requirements
• Regular Updates: Monitor for changes in Epicor's interface and update scripts accordingly

Handling Authentication

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

const handleEpicorAuth = async (page, ai, credentials) => {
  // Navigate to login
  await page.goto("https://your-epicor-instance.com");
  
  // Enter credentials
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: `Enter company ${credentials.company}, user ID ${credentials.userId} 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 Epicor data export. By leveraging intelligent browser agents, you can automate shop floor data collection and reporting, sync customer orders with real-time production status, and streamline manufacturing workflows that aren't easily achievable through API calls alone. Whether you need to collect shop floor data, synchronize orders with production, or generate custom reports, browser automation enables efficient data management from Epicor while maintaining manufacturing security and compliance.

Start automating your Epicor workflows today and streamline your manufacturing operations!