FTP/SFTP Data Integration | Secure File Automation
Connect FTP/SFTP in 5 minutes. Your agent queries ingestion volumes, pipeline lag, schema drift, and backfill status—then cross-references with 1,000+ marketing and analytics sources for complete data pipeline visibility.
Key Takeaways Connect FTP/SFTP integration securely
Improvado connects to your FTP and SFTP servers to extract data files automatically without manual downloads. Our platform supports secure file transfer protocols with SSH key authentication and encrypted connections. The integration monitors directories for new files and processes them on customizable schedules or real-time triggers. No manual file transfers or custom scripting required for regular data extraction workflows.
Unified file processing across data sources
Improvado's data processing engine standardizes FTP/SFTP files alongside other data sources using consistent schemas and formats. Files from different servers are normalized into unified table structures for cross-system analysis. Combine legacy system exports with modern cloud platforms and marketing tools for comprehensive business intelligence. Your processed data flows seamlessly into BigQuery, Snowflake, Redshift, or BI tools like Tableau and Power BI.
Data objects and fields Improvado extracts from FTP/SFTP
| Object | Fields |
|---|---|
| Formats | CSV JSON XML TXT Parquet |
| Compression | gzip bzip2 zip none |
| Ingestion | full reload incremental by timestamp incremental by file pattern |
| Schema | auto-detect from delimiters manual column mapping header row detection |
| Auth | username/password SSH keys (public/private key pair) certificate-based |
From connection to autonomous action in three steps
Connect
Connect via SFTP credentials (host, port, username, password or SSH key). Agent authenticates and maps your directory structure, identifying active transfer paths and file patterns across your server infrastructure.
Ask
Ask questions like 'Which directories had failed transfers this week?' or 'Show me average file sizes by path' or 'What's the transfer speed for large inventory files?'
Act
Agent retries failed transfers, moves files between directories, archives completed batches, adjusts transfer schedules based on file size patterns, and triggers downstream processes when specific files arrive.
What teams ask their AI agent about FTP/SFTP
Real prompts from enterprise marketing teams. The agent reads your data, answers in seconds, and takes action when you ask.
Process daily sales reports from legacy ERP systems via SFTP for modern analytics dashboards.
Your AI agent analyzes FTP/SFTP data and delivers actionable insights — automatically, in seconds.
Transform vendor data files delivered via FTP into analytics-ready format automatically.
Your AI agent analyzes FTP/SFTP data and delivers actionable insights — automatically, in seconds.
Generate executive reports combining FTP data with real-time marketing and sales metrics.
Your AI agent analyzes FTP/SFTP data and delivers actionable insights — automatically, in seconds.
Your agent doesn't just read FTP/SFTP—it orchestrates pipelines.
Read
Agent reads transfer logs, file metadata, directory structures, transfer timestamps, file sizes, connection status, error messages, and bandwidth utilization across all configured SFTP paths.
Write
Agent uploads files, downloads files, moves files between directories, deletes archived files, retries failed transfers, creates new directories, adjusts file permissions, and schedules recurring transfers based on patterns.
Monitor
Agent monitors transfer success rates, connection stability, file arrival times, directory size limits, transfer duration thresholds, disk space availability, and triggers alerts when transfers fail or files don't arrive on schedule.
Query dataset freshness, trigger backfills, monitor ingestion volume, and validate schemas directly through Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor, or any MCP client. Every read, write, and pipeline action is logged and governed.
| Directory Path | Files Transferred | Success Rate |
|---|---|---|
| /data/inventory/daily | 18 files | 100% |
| /exports/orders | 12 files | 100% |
| /reports/logistics | 8 files | 87.5% |
| /warehouse/shipments | 6 files | 100% |
| /backup/customer_data | 3 files | 100% |
Send FTP/SFTP data anywhere
Load normalized data to your preferred warehouse, BI tool, or cloud storage. Click any destination to see its integration guide.
They extract data. Improvado deploys an agent.
Traditional tools move data from A to B. Improvado gives you an AI agent that reads, acts, and monitors — with FTP/SFTP as one of 1,000+ integrated sources.
| Feature | Improvado | Supermetrics | Funnel.io | Fivetran |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Data fields extracted | 200+ | ~90 | ~120 | ~80 |
| Total integrations | 1,000+ | ~150 | ~500 | ~300 |
| Cross-channel normalization (CDM) | ✓ Built-in | ✗ Manual | ● Basic mapping | ✗ Raw only |
| AI Agent access (MCP) | ✓ Read, Write, Monitor | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Data warehouse destinations | ✓ 16+ warehouses & BI tools | Sheets, Looker, BigQuery | BigQuery, Snowflake, Redshift | ✓ Broad warehouse support |
| Refresh frequency | Every 15 min | Scheduled triggers | Daily / 6hr | Every 15 min (premium) |
| SOC 2 Type II & HIPAA | ✓ | ✗ SOC 2 only | ✓ SOC 2 | ✓ |
| Best for | Teams that want an AI agent, not a pipeline | Small teams, spreadsheets | Mid-market, data teams | Engineering-led ELT pipelines |
Comparison based on publicly available documentation as of April 2026. Feature availability may vary by plan tier.
Frequently asked questions
What file formats are supported from FTP/SFTP servers?
How does Improvado ensure secure FTP/SFTP connections?
Can Improvado process files from multiple FTP servers?
Does the integration support incremental file processing?
How often does Improvado check for new files?
What happens if FTP/SFTP servers are temporarily unavailable?
"Improvado saves about 90 hours per week and allows us to focus on data analysis."
"Improvado's reporting tool effortlessly integrates all our marketing data so we can easily track users across their entire digital journey. This saves me and my team countless hours."
Put an AI agent on your FTP/SFTP today
Connect in under 5 minutes. Your agent starts reading, acting, and monitoring immediately.