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Pull records from your ERP

In this article

Most checks depend on data you keep somewhere else. Matching an invoice to a supplier only works if Merchaint knows your suppliers.

  • A walkthrough video, then three jobs a Pull step does well
  • The eight steps, and which trigger to pair it with
  • The loop that costs people an afternoon, and how to avoid it
  • What happens to records that are already there

01 · Video

Feature walkthrough

Video · pulling suppliers from QuickBooks · 2:30

02 · Why

Why do we have this?

Most checks depend on data you keep somewhere else. Matching an invoice to a supplier only works if Merchaint knows your suppliers. Pulling keeps that list current without anyone retyping it.

03 · Use cases

Use case 1
Keep a Supplier module in step with your ERP

A schedule, every hour or overnight.

Use case 2
Bring in open bills

So they can be matched against invoices.

Use case 3
React when the ERP changes something

Use the On ERP Webhook trigger instead of a schedule.

04 · How

Build a Pull

  1. Create a workflow with an On a Schedule trigger.
  2. Set the schedule — a cron time, or an interval in seconds (minimum 30).
  3. Press ADD STEP and choose Pull from ERP under Data & Records.
  4. Choose the Connection.
  5. Choose the Entity Type — Bill, Invoice, Vendor, Customer, and so on.
  6. Add Filters if you only want some of them.
  7. Choose Save to Module — where the pulled records should land.
  8. Wait for FIELD MAPPINGS to finish analysing, then check what it guessed. See Map fields to your ERP.

05 · Expected result

Records arrive in the module you chose, on the schedule you set. The step summary reads something like entityType: Bill.

06 · Troubleshooting and notes

Pull is a batch fetch, not a reaction

It fetches many records at once. It does not react to one changed row, which is why the trigger you pair it with matters so much.

Which trigger to use

TriggerWhen it suits
On a ScheduleKeeping a module in sync. The usual choice
On ERP WebhookPulling when the accounting system itself says something changed

Schedules are UTC

The cron box shows your own timezone underneath and works out what your expression means locally. Read it before saving.

Recurring sync is optional

Under the mappings there is Set up recurring sync template. You do not need it for a workflow — the step’s own mapping is enough. It is for the separate sync configurations in the Integrations area.

07 · FAQ

Common questions

How often should I pull?

For master data like suppliers, hourly or nightly is plenty. Pulling every 30 seconds mostly wastes effort.

What happens to records that are already there?

They are updated rather than duplicated, matched on the ERP's own identifier.

Can I pull into a module that has other data in it?

Yes, but think about it first. Mixing pulled records with hand-entered ones in one module makes it harder to know where anything came from.

Can I filter what comes in?

Yes, there is a Filters box on the step.