Rock Solid Automation: API Alternative for Local Government CRM, Citizen Engagement, and Service Metrics

Introduction

Rock Solid is a citizen services and CRM platform used by local governments and municipalities to manage citizen engagement, service requests, and department workflows. While Rock Solid provides web-based CRM and reporting tools, the platform has limited or restricted API access for many government users. Browser automation provides a reliable solution to automate CRM workflows for local government engagement, sync citizen requests with department workflows, and export engagement and service metrics directly through the Rock Solid web interface, enabling streamlined citizen services and data-driven operations.

Why Use Browser Automation for Rock Solid?

• Limited API Access: Rock Solid has restricted or no API access for many government users and jurisdictions
• Local Government CRM: Automate CRM workflows for citizen engagement, case management, and outreach
• Citizen Request Sync: Sync citizen requests and cases with department workflows, assignment, and resolution
• Engagement and Service Metrics: Export engagement and service metrics for reporting and performance tracking
• Research and Reporting: Pull data for research, council reports, and transparency requirements
• Multi-Department Coordination: Route and track requests across departments and ensure consistent status updates
• Compliance and Audit: Produce engagement and service documentation for auditors and oversight
• Dashboard-Only Features: Many CRM and reporting views are only available through the web interface

Setting Up Rock Solid Automation

Here's how to automate Rock Solid workflows 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];

await page.goto("https://admin.rocksolid.com/");

await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
  prompt: 'Log in to Rock Solid admin using the provided credentials. Complete any MFA or security verification and wait for the dashboard to load.'
}));

Automating CRM for Local Government Engagement

Automate CRM workflows for citizen engagement, case creation, and outreach:

const automateCRMForEngagement = async (page, ai, config) => {
  const { action, contactId, campaignId } = config;
  
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Navigate to the CRM, Contacts, or Engagement section in Rock Solid admin'
  }));
  
  if (action === 'create_contact') {
    await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
      prompt: 'Click Add Contact or New Citizen. Enter the provided contact details (name, address, phone, email, preferences). Save the contact.'
    }));
  } else if (action === 'log_interaction') {
    await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
      prompt: `Open contact or case ${contactId}. Log a new interaction: type (call, email, in-person), summary, and outcome. Save.`
    }));
  } else if (action === 'campaign') {
    await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
      prompt: `Navigate to campaign or outreach ${campaignId || 'list'}. Run or export campaign results: contacts reached, responses, and engagement summary.`
    }));
  }
  
  await page.waitForLoadState('networkidle');
  return true;
};

const getEngagementSummary = async (page, ai, dateRange) => {
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: `Navigate to Engagement or CRM Reports. Set date range ${dateRange.start} to ${dateRange.end}. Export or read summary: contact count, interactions by type, cases opened/closed.`
  }));
  const download = await page.waitForEvent('download', { timeout: 15000 }).catch(() => null);
  return download ? await download.path() : null;
};

Syncing Citizen Requests with Department Workflows

Export citizen requests and sync with department workflows, assignment, and resolution:

const syncCitizenRequestsWithDepartments = async (page, ai, params) => {
  const { dateRange, department, status } = params;
  
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Navigate to the Requests, Cases, or Service Requests section in Rock Solid admin'
  }));
  
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: `Filter by department ${department || 'all'}, status ${status || 'open'}, date range ${dateRange.start} to ${dateRange.end}. Include requests that need assignment or workflow update.`
  }));
  
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Export the list of citizen requests including: request ID, category, description, citizen contact, department, status, created date, assigned to, and priority. Export as CSV or Excel.'
  }));
  
  const download = await page.waitForEvent('download');
  const exportPath = await download.path();
  
  const requests = await parseCSV(exportPath);
  for (const req of requests) {
    await createOrUpdateDepartmentWorkflow(req);
    await page.waitForTimeout(300);
  }
  return { exportPath, count: requests.length };
};

Exporting Citizen Requests for Department Workflows

Export open or pending citizen requests in a format ready for department systems:

const exportCitizenRequestsForWorkflows = async (page, ai, filters) => {
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Navigate to the Requests or Cases section in Rock Solid'
  }));
  
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: `Filter by department ${filters.department || 'all'}, status ${filters.status || 'open'}, date from ${filters.start} to ${filters.end}. Export request data: request ID, category, description, location, department, status, created date, assigned to. Export as CSV or Excel.`
  }));
  
  const download = await page.waitForEvent('download');
  return await download.path();
};

Exporting Engagement and Service Metrics

Generate and export engagement and service metrics for reporting and performance tracking:

const exportEngagementAndServiceMetrics = async (page, ai, reportParams) => {
  const { reportType, dateRange, groupBy } = reportParams;
  
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Navigate to the Reports, Analytics, or Metrics section in Rock Solid admin'
  }));
  
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: `Select ${reportType} (Engagement Summary, Service Metrics, Request Volume, or Resolution Time). Set date range from ${dateRange.start} to ${dateRange.end}. Group by ${groupBy || 'department'} if available.`
  }));
  
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Generate the report. Include: request count, resolution rate, average response time, engagement by channel (phone, web, in-person), breakdown by department and category. Export as Excel or PDF.'
  }));
  
  const download = await page.waitForEvent('download');
  return await download.path();
};

Exporting Metrics by Period

Export engagement and service metrics for a specific period (e.g., monthly or quarterly):

const exportMetricsByPeriod = async (page, ai, periodEnd, department) => {
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Navigate to the Reports or Metrics section in Rock Solid'
  }));
  
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: `Generate engagement and service metrics report for period ending ${periodEnd}. Filter by department ${department || 'all'}. Include: requests received, resolved, open backlog, average resolution time, engagement counts. Export as Excel or CSV.`
  }));
  
  const download = await page.waitForEvent('download');
  return await download.path();
};

Research and Data Export

Pull data for research, council reports, and transparency:

const exportDataForResearch = async (page, ai, dataType, dateRange) => {
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Navigate to the Export, Reports, or Data section in Rock Solid admin'
  }));
  
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: `Export ${dataType} (citizen requests, engagement history, service metrics, or contact summary) for date range ${dateRange.start} to ${dateRange.end}. Include all fields needed for research and reporting. Export as CSV or Excel.`
  }));
  
  const download = await page.waitForEvent('download');
  return await download.path();
};

Syncing with External Systems

Export CRM and request data for integration with other government systems:

const syncToExternalSystem = async (page, ai, dataType) => {
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Navigate to the Export or Reports section in Rock Solid admin'
  }));
  
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: `Export ${dataType} (citizen requests, engagement metrics, service summary, or CRM contacts) in the format required for our department workflow, GIS, or reporting system. Include all necessary fields.`
  }));
  
  const download = await page.waitForEvent('download');
  return await download.path();
};

Best Practices

• Security: Use secure credential storage and support MFA where required for Rock Solid admin; treat citizen data as sensitive
• Rate Limiting: Add delays between requests (5–10 seconds) to avoid triggering rate limits or security flags
• Data Validation: Verify exported request and metrics data before syncing with department workflows
• Error Handling: Implement retry logic for transient failures and session timeouts
• Privacy and Retention: Handle citizen contact and interaction data according to privacy and retention policies
• Workflow Sync: Avoid duplicate workflow items by tracking which requests have already been synced to departments
• Reporting Cadence: Align metrics export with council, department, and transparency reporting cycles
• Audit Trail: Log all automation actions for accountability and compliance
• Session Management: Handle session timeouts and re-authentication for scheduled sync and report jobs

Resources

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

Conclusion

Browser automation provides a flexible and reliable alternative to API access for Rock Solid citizen services and CRM workflows. By leveraging intelligent browser agents, you can automate CRM for local government engagement, sync citizen requests with department workflows, and export engagement and service metrics—workflows that aren't easily achievable through manual processes or limited API access. Whether you need to manage engagement, route requests to departments, or run metrics and research reports, browser automation enables efficient citizen services operations for governments using Rock Solid.

Start automating your Rock Solid workflows today and streamline your citizen engagement and service metrics!