Integrating HiBob with Forecast

The HiBob (Bob) integration allows you to sync team members and their non-project time with Forecast. Connect the Bob integration to import users, departments and time-off allocations into Forecast ensuring your team members' availability is accurately reflected.

This article covers:

• HiBob for Forecast Data Flow
• Creating a new API Service User and Permissions Group
• Configuring Permissions
• Testing the connection
• Connecting HiBob with Forecast

HiBob for Forecast Data Flow

The data flow between Forecast and Bob is one-way, meaning data syncs from Bob into Forecast. Team members and non-project time are entered in Bob and imported into Forecast. Since time-off syncs from Bob to Forecast, it is not possible to add time-off in Forecast when the integration is connected. Any changes made in Forecast to Departments or Non-Project Time types will be overwritten by Bob during the daily sync process.

Creating a new API Service User and Permissions Group

Before connecting the Bob integration, an API Service User must be created and granted the appropriate permissions to access Bob's API. API Service Users in Bob enable API access and can be configured with unique permissions, depending on the specific API you wish to access.

Creating a new API Service User

The API Service User is created and managed in Service Users Configuration within Bob by a Bob Admin.

• For step-by-step instructions, see Manage service users in Bob.

To create a new API Service User

1. 1. Navigate to the Service Users Configuration page in Bob.
   2. Collect the ID and Token.

Creating a new permissions group

API Service Users in Bob have no access permissions by default. When using Bob's API, each endpoint may require specific permissions depending on the data you need to access. For example, accessing time-off data requires different permissions than accessing an employee’s work history.

To create a new permissions group

1. 1. Follow the steps to create a service user permissions group in Bob.
   2. Once the permissions group is created, link the API Service User to it.

Configuring Permissions

Like API Service Users, permissions groups default disable all permissions upon creation.

Enabling Service User Group Permissions

The following permissions must be enabled on the Service User Permission Group:

• • View selected employees' User data sections
  • View selected employees' Identification section histories
  • See who's out based on their personal working pattern and time off calendar
  • View selected employees' Personal sections
  • View selected employees' Identification sections
  • See who's out today
  • See who's out because of a private policy
  • View selected employees' User data section histories
  • View selected employees' profile changes history
  • View selected employees' Home sections
  • View selected employees' Work eligibility section histories
  • View selected employees' Employment sections
  • View selected employees' Home section histories
  • View selected employees' Employment section histories

Reviewing Permissions Categories

In Bob, permissions are defined by three categories: Features, People's data and Access Rights. Enable the permissions for the level of API access required for the service user. Add or remove permissions by editing the appropriate category.

• Features:  Grant access to Bob Features you need to access with the API Service User. For example, to access reports, you will need to enable permission options in Features > Reports.
• People's data: Grant access to People's data in Bob that you need to access with the API Service User.
• Access Rights: Grant access to the people whose data you need to access with the API Service User.

By default, the service user's permission group grants access to all active employees.

To access inactive employees

1. From Access rights, toggle Select people by condition. 
2. Click Edit. 
3. Remove the condition Lifecycle status equals Employed from the permission group.
4. Click Apply.

Testing the Connection

Once you've created the API Service User and the corresponding permissions group, you can test the API connection using the Try It feature in Bob's interactive API reference.

• For step-by-step instructions, refer to Bob's Testing section.

To test the connection

1. Follow Bob's reference guide.
2. Enter the API Service User credentials.
3. Test the endpoint.

Authorization header

Additionally, you’ll need to include an authorization header when sending HTTP requests to Bob's API.

• Learn how to build the authorization header for your API Service User in Bob's reference guide: Authorization.

Connecting HiBob with Forecast

Once you have completed all of the above steps: created an API service user and service user permission group, assigned the appropriate permissions to the group, and tested the connection, you are are ready to configure the connection in Forecast. 

To configure the connection

1. Click Admin in the top bar. 
2. Select Integrations from the dropdown.
3. Scroll down to Human Resources. 
4. Click HiBob.
   
5. Complete the form using the details for your API Service User. 
   
6. Click Connect. 

Related articles

• Syncing Users and Non-Project Time from HiBob