Flat file
A plain CSV or text file used to exchange data between systems that don't share an API. Older ERP systems often export data as flat files; automations can process them and push the data to modern SaaS tools.
Expert insight
Flat files (CSV, fixed-width text) remain common integration formats for older systems (banking, legacy ERP) precisely because they don't require an API at all, but they carry format fragility: a CSV with a comma inside an unquoted text field, or a fixed-width file with a shifted column, silently corrupts every field after the error rather than failing cleanly.
How PURIST uses this
This concept is built into every automation we deploy.
When PURIST builds your automation, Flat file is not an optional consideration it is part of the production standard. Our workflows are tested against edge cases, monitored 24/7, and built to handle what happens when things don't go as expected.
Every client workflow we deploy in the Data category is designed with this principle in mind from day one not added as an afterthought.
Complexity level
Anyone can understand this no technical background needed.
Related terms
See it in action
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