Why Zapier Doesn't Work for Construction Software
You tried Zapier, searched for your construction ERP, and found nothing. You're not alone. Here's why—and what actually works instead.
Every week, a construction company contacts us with the same story: they Googled “Zapier Sage 300 CRE” or “automate Viewpoint Vista” and found… nothing.
No connector. No integration. Just disappointment.
Here’s the thing: it’s not Zapier’s fault. Construction software just doesn’t play by the same rules as modern SaaS.
Why Zapier Can’t Help
No APIs. Sage 300 CRE, Viewpoint Vista, Foundation—these were built before “API” was a thing. They run on proprietary databases and don’t speak HTTP.
On-premise software. Your ERP lives behind your firewall. Zapier lives in the cloud. They literally can’t see each other.
Construction is weird. Job cost codes. AIA billing. Union payroll classifications. Retention tracking. Zapier’s “if this then that” model wasn’t built for “if this, then look up the cost code mapping, check if it’s prevailing wage, validate the budget, and create entries in three modules.”
What Actually Works
File Drops
Old school? Yes. Effective? Also yes.
Most construction ERPs support CSV imports. You extract data from Procore, format it exactly how Sage wants it, drop it in a folder, and Sage imports automatically. Not glamorous, but companies move thousands of transactions this way.
RPA Bots
When there’s no import option, bots click through screens like a really fast employee. They can watch your inbox, pull data from PDFs, navigate to the right screen, and enter everything automatically.
Sounds sci-fi, but it’s pretty standard now.
Custom Middleware
For complex stuff—syncing Procore to Sage, keeping Buildertrend and QuickBooks in sync—custom code acts as a translator between systems. It handles the weird business rules that no off-the-shelf tool can.
The Real Question
Construction companies often stick with manual processes because “it works.” But is it really working when:
- Your AP clerk spends 3 hours daily on invoice entry?
- Payroll takes an extra day because timecards need re-keying?
- Your CFO can’t see job costs until month-end close?
The technology to fix this exists. It just doesn’t live in Zapier’s app directory.
Want to see what’s possible for your stack? Get a free assessment and we’ll map out exactly how to connect your systems.
