Step by Step Guide to Building a UKG Pro Workforce Management API Integration in C#

Introduction

Hey there, fellow developer! Ready to dive into the world of UKG Pro Workforce Management API integration? You're in for a treat. This guide will walk you through creating a robust C# integration that'll have you managing employee data, time and attendance, and schedules like a pro. Let's get cracking!

Prerequisites

Before we jump in, make sure you've got:

• Visual Studio or your favorite C# IDE
• .NET Core 3.1 or later
• UKG Pro API credentials (if you don't have these, reach out to your UKG rep)

Got all that? Great! Let's move on.

Setting up the project

First things first, fire up Visual Studio and create a new C# project. Once that's done, we'll need to add a few NuGet packages:

Install-Package Newtonsoft.Json
Install-Package RestSharp

These will make our lives easier when dealing with JSON and HTTP requests.

Authentication

UKG Pro uses OAuth 2.0 for authentication. Here's a quick implementation:

public async Task<string> GetAccessToken()
{
    var client = new RestClient("https://api.ultipro.com/oauth/token");
    var request = new RestRequest(Method.POST);
    request.AddParameter("grant_type", "client_credentials");
    request.AddParameter("client_id", "your_client_id");
    request.AddParameter("client_secret", "your_client_secret");

    var response = await client.ExecuteAsync(request);
    var token = JsonConvert.DeserializeObject<TokenResponse>(response.Content);
    return token.AccessToken;
}

Remember to store and refresh your access token as needed!

Making API requests

Let's create a base API client class:

public class UkgApiClient
{
    private readonly string _baseUrl = "https://api.ultipro.com";
    private readonly string _accessToken;

    public UkgApiClient(string accessToken)
    {
        _accessToken = accessToken;
    }

    public async Task<T> GetAsync<T>(string endpoint)
    {
        var client = new RestClient(_baseUrl);
        var request = new RestRequest(endpoint, Method.GET);
        request.AddHeader("Authorization", $"Bearer {_accessToken}");

        var response = await client.ExecuteAsync(request);
        return JsonConvert.DeserializeObject<T>(response.Content);
    }

    // Add other methods (POST, PUT, DELETE) as needed
}

Implementing key API endpoints

Now, let's implement some key endpoints:

public async Task<Employee> GetEmployee(string employeeId)
{
    return await GetAsync<Employee>($"/personnel/v1/employees/{employeeId}");
}

public async Task<TimeCard> GetTimeCard(string employeeId, DateTime startDate, DateTime endDate)
{
    return await GetAsync<TimeCard>($"/timecards/v1/employees/{employeeId}/timecards?startDate={startDate:yyyy-MM-dd}&endDate={endDate:yyyy-MM-dd}");
}

public async Task<Schedule> GetSchedule(string employeeId, DateTime startDate, DateTime endDate)
{
    return await GetAsync<Schedule>($"/schedules/v1/employees/{employeeId}/schedules?startDate={startDate:yyyy-MM-dd}&endDate={endDate:yyyy-MM-dd}");
}

Error handling and logging

Don't forget to wrap your API calls in try-catch blocks and log any errors:

try
{
    var employee = await GetEmployee("12345");
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
    _logger.LogError($"Error fetching employee data: {ex.Message}");
    // Handle the error appropriately
}

Data parsing and mapping

You'll want to create model classes that match the API response structure. Here's a simple example:

public class Employee
{
    public string EmployeeId { get; set; }
    public string FirstName { get; set; }
    public string LastName { get; set; }
    // Add other properties as needed
}

Implementing rate limiting and throttling

Respect the API's rate limits by implementing a simple exponential backoff:

private async Task<T> ExecuteWithRetry<T>(Func<Task<T>> action, int maxRetries = 3)
{
    for (int i = 0; i < maxRetries; i++)
    {
        try
        {
            return await action();
        }
        catch (Exception ex) when (ex is HttpRequestException || ex is TimeoutException)
        {
            if (i == maxRetries - 1) throw;
            await Task.Delay((int)Math.Pow(2, i) * 1000);
        }
    }
    throw new Exception("Unexpected code path");
}

Testing the integration

Don't forget to write unit tests for your key components and integration tests with sample data. It'll save you headaches down the road!

Best practices and optimization

Consider implementing caching for frequently accessed data and use asynchronous programming throughout your integration for better performance.

Conclusion

And there you have it! You've just built a solid foundation for your UKG Pro Workforce Management API integration. From here, you can expand on this base, adding more endpoints and functionality as needed.

Remember, the key to a great integration is continuous improvement. Keep an eye on the UKG Pro API documentation for updates and new features, and don't be afraid to refactor your code as you learn more.

Happy coding, and may your integration be ever efficient!