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Platform › Payroll Integration

Payroll Integration.
Three ways to bring Payroll Engine to your stack.

Payroll Engine integrates through three channels: pre-built adapters, AI agents over MCP, and the open REST API. Adapters are the turnkey path — inbound connectors import HR master data from your existing systems, and outbound connectors post the computed results back to your ERP and finance. Because results flow back into the systems you already run, Payroll Engine slots into your landscape instead of demanding a rip-and-replace — and the adapter channel lets you start at any of three commitment levels.

Request a Demo → Payroll Adapters →
Integration channels

Adapters, AI agents, or REST API

Payroll Engine connects through three channels. Pre-built adapters are the turnkey path; AI agents connect through the Model Context Protocol (MCP); and the same open REST API powers everything underneath. Choose the channel that fits your stack — they all drive the identical calculation core.

CommercialTurnkey

Pre-built Adapters

Ready-made bidirectional connectors for common HR, ERP, and EOR systems — Personio, Silae, AFAS, Dynamics 365, SAP SuccessFactors, Sage, Papaya Global, PayFit, Odoo, and CSV. Inbound import of master data, outbound export of computed results, with secret handling and transient retry built in.

  • No integration code — configure connection and field mappings
  • Universal import schema maps to every country regulation
  • Powers all three integration scenarios below
Adapter integration ↓
OSS read-onlyPro write

AI via MCP

The Model Context Protocol exposes payroll as structured, permission-controlled tools for AI agents — not a chatbot, a tool interface. The open-source MCP Server gives read-only access to query employees, cases, and results. MCP Server Pro adds write and consolidation tools, so agents can enter case data, trigger payruns, and run cross-country queries.

  • Read-only MCP Server (open source) for queries and analysis
  • MCP Server Pro adds case input, payrun execution, and consolidation
  • Structured, audited, permission-scoped — safe for agent workflows
AI integration ↓
Open Source.NET 10

REST API

The engine is an ASP.NET Core REST API: every capability — tenants, cases, payruns, results, and reports — is available programmatically. Query with OData, integrate with the typed .NET Client SDK, and embed payroll directly into your own platform. This is the foundation that adapters and MCP are built on.

  • Full programmatic control over cases, payruns, and results
  • Typed Client SDK and OData querying
  • Build your own connectors or embed payroll in-product
REST API integration ↓
Adapter integration

One adapter framework, three adoption scenarios

Within the adapter channel, the same bidirectional framework supports an adoption ladder — from a zero-risk parallel run to a full payroll-engine deployment. Each scenario adds commitment while reusing the identical integration plumbing, so progressing from one to the next requires no re-integration.

Scenario 1

Validate an existing payroll

Run Payroll Engine as a parallel (shadow) payroll next to your current production system — without switching anything. The lowest-risk way to prove compliance depth before any decision.

  • An inbound Payroll Adapter imports the same employee and contract data your current payroll uses
  • Payroll Engine computes the period in a non-binding Preview run — nothing is posted
  • Results are compared against the incumbent output to surface calculation and compliance gaps
  • Auditable, sub-period-level transparency makes every difference explainable
Adapter direction→ Inbound

Payrun typePreview — sync, no persistence

Existing systemStays in production (system of record)

LicenseForecast

Typical useEvaluation, audit, compliance check
Scenario 2

Extend an existing payroll with forecasts

Keep your current payroll for production and add the forward-looking analysis it lacks — what-if, budgeting, and cost projection — computed by the same engine that runs the real payslip.

  • An inbound adapter keeps Payroll Engine in sync with your existing payroll data
  • Payroll Engine runs isolated, repeatable Forecast payruns for what-if and planning scenarios
  • Model salary changes, promotions, and one-time payments before they happen
  • Optionally export forecast results to BI or finance for downstream reporting

See Payroll Forecasts for the two forecast operating models in detail.

Adapter direction→ Inbound (+ optional export)

Payrun typeForecast — persistent, parallel scenarios

Existing systemStays in production for the legal payslip

LicenseForecast

Typical useWhat-if, budgeting, cost projection
Scenario 3

Extend your HR/ERP with Payroll Engine

Introduce Payroll Engine as your new production payroll inside your existing HR/ERP landscape. Payroll Engine replaces only the calculation core — your HR master, ERP, and finance systems stay in place.

  • Inbound adapters import HR master data; your HR system stays authoritative for employee records
  • Payroll Engine runs binding Legal payruns for the official payslip
  • Outbound adapters post the computed results back to your ERP and finance as journal entries, ledger lines, or result files
  • Land-and-expand: start with one country or entity, then scale across the shared multi-country regulation matrix using the same adapter plumbing
Adapter direction⇆ Inbound + Outbound

Payrun typeLegal — binding production

Existing systemHR/ERP retained; payroll core replaced

LicenseFull

Typical useProduction payroll, multi-country rollout
At a glance

Adapter scenarios compared

ScenarioAdapterPayrun typeExisting systemLicenseTypical use
1 · Validate an existing payrollInboundPreviewStays in productionForecastEvaluation, audit, compliance check
2 · Extend with forecastsInbound (+ optional export)ForecastStays in productionForecastWhat-if, budgeting, cost projection
3 · Extend your HR/ERPInbound + OutboundLegalHR/ERP retained, payroll core replacedFullProduction payroll, multi-country rollout
Scenarios 1 and 2 run on a reduced-rate Forecast license (non-binding Preview and Forecast payruns); scenario 3 uses the Full license for binding production payroll. The payrun engine is part of the open-source Payroll Engine; the Payroll Adapters and country regulations are commercial. See Pricing.
AI integration

AI agents over MCP — read and write

The Model Context Protocol (MCP) exposes payroll as structured, permission-controlled tools for AI agents — not a chatbot, a tool interface. It comes in two tiers: read-only query access, and write access for full agent-driven workflows.

Open SourceRead-only

Read — MCP Server

The open-source MCP Server gives agents read access to query employees, cases, payruns, and results through a defined interface — without ever changing payroll state.

  • Query master data, cases, and payroll results
  • Read-only — safe for analysis and reporting agents
  • Open source, runs over stdio
payrollengine.org →
CommercialWrite + consolidation

Write — MCP Server Pro

MCP Server Pro adds write and consolidation tools, so agents can enter case data, trigger payruns, and run cross-country consolidation queries — every action permission-scoped and audited.

  • Enter case data and trigger payruns
  • Cross-country consolidation queries
  • Permission-scoped and fully audited
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REST API integration

Integrate directly over the open REST API

Every capability of the engine is exposed as an ASP.NET Core REST API — tenants, cases, payruns, results, and reports. Query with OData, use the typed .NET Client SDK, and embed payroll directly into your own platform. The API is part of the open-source Payroll Engine, so there is no proprietary integration layer to license.

payrollengine.org →
Request a Demo → Payroll Adapters → Payroll Forecasts →