ERP Automation Agent

MSSQL XML Agent is a Windows-based automation agent developed to fully automate the database export processes of businesses integrated with ERP systems. The project aimed to eliminate the daily manual data preparation burden necessary for data flow to operate continuously and accurately.

Problem

There was a critical bottleneck in the client’s workflow: product and order data that needed to be fed into the ERP system had to be converted from MSSQL database format to XML and transferred every day. This process was carried out entirely manually; each step — running the query, formatting the results, and placing the file in the correct location — required human intervention. The process stalled on weekends and holidays, and the risk of error was high because products with variants required separate processing. When a step was skipped or the wrong file was generated, ERP synchronization broke down and the rest of the chain was affected.

Solution

A portable Windows agent application was developed in Python. The agent connects to the MSSQL database, runs predefined queries, converts the results to the correct XML schema, and transfers the files to the target location. All these steps are executed without human intervention through tasks scheduled with cron expressions. Installation has been reduced to copying a single folder; the IT team does not need to install additional dependencies. Task statuses can be monitored, schedules can be edited, and logs can be reviewed through the web-based management interface.

Key Features

• Portable Installation: Deployment with a single folder copy; no dependency installation, license, or IT approval required
• Product Variant Support: Separate processing logic that converts both standard and multi-variant product structures to the correct XML schema
• Cron-Based Scheduling: Hourly, daily, or custom-interval task scheduling; a lock mechanism prevents overlapping executions
• Windows Service Integration: Automatic startup at system boot without requiring a user session; continuous background operation
• Web Management Interface: Dashboard accessible on port 8080; task status, last run time, and log viewing
• Centralized Log Structure: Every execution step is recorded with a timestamp; a full audit trail is available in the event of an error

Technical Infrastructure

The application was developed in Python. On Windows, the MSSQL connection is established via the pyodbc driver; XML generation logic for variant and non-variant product models was split into separate processing flows. The pywin32 library was used for Windows Service registration; this ensures the agent starts without waiting for a user login when the system restarts. The management interface was provided by a minimal Python web server: external framework dependencies were minimized and the entire application was packaged in a single portable directory.

Results

After the agent was deployed, the daily XML export process became completely independent of human intervention. Synchronization disruptions that occurred on weekends and holidays were eliminated. Errors caused by manual formatting of variant products dropped to zero. With IT staff and data entry personnel freed from this repetitive task, the daily operational workload was visibly reduced; the time freed up could be redirected to higher-value work.