How to Automate Paycor Data Export (No API Required)

Introduction

Paycor is an HCM platform used for payroll, HR, time and attendance, benefits, and recruiting. While Paycor offers some API and integration options, browser automation can serve as an effective alternative for exporting employee data, payroll runs, time and attendance reports, and workforce analytics when API access is limited or not available for your use case.

Why Use Browser Automation for Paycor Data Export?

• Limited or No API Access: Paycor reporting and export features may not be fully exposed via a public or partner API for all modules
• Dashboard-Only Reports: Custom reports, workforce analytics, and payroll exports are often only available in the web portal
• Historical Data: Access older payroll, time, and HR data beyond API or manual export limits
• Custom Exports: Generate reports by date range, department, location, 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 and Attendance: Pull timesheets, schedules, and labor data when no API is available
• Multi-Company or Multi-Location: Aggregate data across companies or locations that require portal access

Setting Up Paycor Data Export Automation

Here's how to automate data collection from Paycor 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 Paycor
await page.goto("https://app.paycor.com");

// Login with AI agent
await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
  prompt: 'Log in to Paycor 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 Paycor:

const exportPaycorEmployees = async (page, ai, options) => {
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Navigate to the Employee or People section, then to the employee list or report builder'
  }));
  
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: `Apply filters if needed (e.g., department, location, status). Then run or export the report for ${options.reportType || 'employee data'}.`
  }));
  
  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 exportPaycorPayroll = async (page, ai, dateRange) => {
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Navigate to the Payroll section, then to Pay Runs or Payroll History'
  }));
  
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: `Set the date 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 and Attendance Reports

Pull time and attendance data from Paycor:

const exportPaycorTimeData = async (page, ai, dateRange) => {
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Navigate to the Time and Attendance or Time Tracking section'
  }));
  
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: `Set the date or pay period to ${dateRange.start} to ${dateRange.end}`
  }));
  
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Export or download the timesheet or attendance report. Wait for the download to complete.'
  }));
  
  const download = await page.waitForEvent('download');
  return await download.path();
};

Tax Documents and Compliance Reports

Download tax documents and compliance reports:

const exportPaycorTaxReports = 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();
};

Workforce and Scheduling Data

Extract workforce and scheduling data when only available in the portal:

const exportPaycorSchedules = async (page, ai, dateRange) => {
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Navigate to the Scheduling or Workforce Management section'
  }));
  
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: `Filter by date range ${dateRange.start} to ${dateRange.end}`
  }));
  
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Export the schedule or labor report. If there is an Export button, use it; otherwise extract the visible table as structured data.'
  }));
  
  const download = await page.waitForEvent('download');
  return await download.path();
};

Best Practices for Paycor Portal Automation

• Security: Use secure credential storage and support 2FA or SSO if Paycor 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
• Regular Updates: Paycor may update the portal; monitor UI changes and adjust automation accordingly
• Terms of Use: Comply with Paycor's terms of use and any contractual restrictions on automated access

Handling Paycor Authentication

Paycor often uses SSO or email/password. Example flow:

const handlePaycorAuth = async (page, ai, credentials) => {
  await page.goto('https://app.paycor.com');
  
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: `Enter email/username: ${credentials.username} 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. Choose "Remember this device" if offered.'
  }));
  
  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 Paycor API access for HR, payroll, time and attendance, and workforce data export. By using browser automation, you can automate data export when the Paycor portal does not expose a full API for your needs. With attention to security and terms of use, you can streamline Paycor data workflows.

Start automating your Paycor data collection and simplify your HCM reporting.