How to Automate Sage 300 CRE Without an API
Sage 300 CRE doesn't have a modern web API. That doesn't mean you're stuck with manual data entry. Here are the three ways construction companies actually automate it.
Tried connecting Sage 300 CRE to Zapier? Yeah, that doesn’t work. No REST API, runs on-premise, sits behind your firewall. Classic legacy software move.
But here’s the thing—construction companies automate Sage 300 CRE every day. They just use different methods.
Method 1: File Drops (The Old School Way)
Sage was built for file-based imports. CSV files, fixed-width text, that kind of thing. It’s not glamorous, but it works.
How it goes:
- Pull data from Procore (or wherever)
- Transform it into Sage’s exact format
- Drop the file in a pickup folder
- Sage imports automatically
The catch? Formats must be perfect. One wrong date format and the whole batch fails. This is why most companies hire someone who’s done it before.
Works great for: Timecards, vendor invoices, job cost imports
Method 2: RPA Bots (When Files Won’t Cut It)
Sometimes there’s no file import option. That’s where bots come in—they literally click through Sage’s screens like a very fast, very patient employee.
A bot can watch your AP inbox, extract invoice data from PDFs, open Sage, navigate to Unapproved Invoices, and enter everything automatically. Sounds wild, but it’s pretty common now.
Best for: Complex workflows, exception handling, anything involving PDFs
The downside: If Sage updates its UI, the bot needs updating too.
Method 3: Database Queries (For Reporting)
Need data out of Sage for Power BI dashboards? You can query the Pervasive database directly.
We don’t recommend writing to the database (that’s how you corrupt things), but reading is fair game. Set up nightly extracts, pipe it into a staging database, and your CFO gets fresh dashboards every morning.
Mix and Match
Most companies use all three: file imports for high-volume stuff, RPA for the weird edge cases, and database queries for reporting.
The technology exists. The hours you’re spending on manual data entry are recoverable. Sage’s age doesn’t have to mean manual work forever.
Curious what this would look like for your setup? Grab a free assessment and we’ll map out exactly how to connect your field tools to Sage.
