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Does Browse AI support websites that change frequently?

Yes, Browse AI includes AI-powered change detection and adaptation features designed to help maintain data extraction when websites update their layouts or structure.

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Written by Melissa Shires
Updated yesterday

Browse AI's is an AI scraper that is designed to adapt and maintain data acuracy when websites change. This includes:

  • AI-powered change monitoring - Detects website structure changes

  • Automatic retries - Built-in retry logic for failed extractions

  • Change notifications - Alerts when robots need attention

  • Human behavior simulation - Mimics natural browsing patterns

Browse AI works with many dynamic sites like e-commerce platforms, news websites, and business directories, though success varies by website complexity and security measures.

How does Browse AI handle website changes?

Browse AI's system includes several features to help with changing websites:

  1. Change monitoring - The platform monitors for website structure changes

  2. Automatic retries - Built-in retry mechanisms for temporary failures

  3. Rate limiting and scaling - Intelligent request management

  4. Proxy management - Built-in proxy rotation

  5. Alert detection - Notifications when issues occur

When websites change:

  • You may receive failure notifications if robots stop working properly

  • The system provides success rates for each robot in your usage reports

  • Browse AI offers guidance for improving robot performance

  • Some changes may require retraining robots or creating new ones

Important note: While Browse AI includes AI-powered features to help with website changes, significant structural changes may still require manual intervention or robot adjustments.

What should I expect when my target website changes?

When Browse AI detects potential issues:

  1. Failure notifications - You'll receive alerts about robot failures

  2. Performance reports - Success rates are tracked in your usage reports

  3. Guidance provided - Browse AI suggests improvements for robot performance

  4. Support available - Contact support for help with persistent issues

Types of notifications you may receive:

  • Individual failure notifications (default for new users)

  • Daily, weekly, or monthly failure digests

  • Batched notifications if you have high failure volumes (12+ per month)

  • Success rate summaries in usage reports

Response options:

  • Review failure notifications for specific issues

  • Use provided links to improve robot performance

  • Retrain robots if necessary

  • Contact support for complex issues

How can I improve Browse AI's performance on changing websites?

Best practices for dynamic website extraction:

During robot setup:

  • Use Browse AI's recommended datasets feature during creation

  • Select multiple example elements when training robots

  • Test robots thoroughly before deploying monitoring

  • Avoid interacting with cookie banners during training when possible

Ongoing monitoring:

  • Set appropriate monitoring frequencies based on your needs

  • Review failure notifications promptly when they occur

  • Check usage reports regularly to monitor success rates

  • Use session cookies for logged-in sites when possible

When issues occur:

  • Review the specific failure messages for guidance

  • Consider retraining robots if websites have changed significantly

  • Use the "Update Session Cookies" feature for login-required sites

  • Contact support for persistent or complex issues

Integration setup:

  • Connect to Google Sheets, Airtable, or other tools for automatic updates

  • Set up webhook notifications for real-time alerts

  • Use API integration for custom workflows

  • Configure Zapier or other automation tools for complex workflows

What are Browse AI's current limitations with changing websites?

CAPTCHA handling:

  • Supports standard ReCaptcha and hCaptcha

  • Does not support custom CAPTCHAs

  • May require manual intervention for complex security challenges

High-security websites:

  • Some sites have advanced bot detection that Browse AI cannot bypass

  • Particularly challenging for sites requiring complex authentication

  • May not work with all 2FA/MFA implementations

Technical constraints:

  • Cookie consent banners can cause failures if they appear differently than during training

  • Some websites reject cookies from different IP addresses

  • Complex JavaScript applications may require specific handling

  • Frequent A/B testing can cause inconsistent behavior

When manual intervention may be needed:

  • Major website redesigns or structural changes

  • New security measures or bot detection systems

  • Changes to login processes or authentication requirements

  • Custom or unusual website implementations

What support is available when robots stop working?

Automatic features:

  • Failure notifications keep you informed of issues

  • Usage reports show success rates and performance trends

  • Retry logic handles temporary failures automatically

  • Guidance links in notifications help improve performance

Self-service options:

  • Robot retraining tools for updating existing robots

  • Documentation for troubleshooting common issues

  • Settings adjustments for authentication and monitoring

  • Bulk operations for managing multiple robots

Support channels:

  • Email support for all users (basic support on free plans)

  • Priority email support for Professional plan users

  • Live chat support available for higher-tier plans

  • Detailed help articles for common scenarios

Professional services:

  • Managed services available for complex extraction needs

  • Custom robot development for challenging websites

  • Dedicated support for business-critical applications

  • Custom integrations and data transformation services

Important: Success rates and robot performance can vary significantly based on website complexity, security measures, and change frequency. While Browse AI includes AI-powered features to help with adaptation, some scenarios may require manual adjustments or alternative approaches.

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