Configuring the data sync between BambooHR and Forecast

⏱️ 3 minute read

This integration syncs approved time-off requests from BambooHR directly into the Forecast resource heatmap. This provides a single source of truth for employee availability, eliminating the need to update multiple systems and allowing for highly accurate resource planning.

Before time-off data can successfully sync, you must link Forecast users to their corresponding BambooHR employee profiles and map Forecast idle time to the relevant BambooHR time-off categories.

This article covers:

• Importing users into Forecast
• Linking users between Forecast and BambooHR
• Importing time off types from BambooHR
• How Time-Off Synchronization Works

Importing BambooHR users into Forecast

Note: If a BambooHR user already exists in Forecast, skip this process for that specific user to prevent creating duplicates.

1. In the Admin menu, navigate to People.

2. Click the Import BambooHR Users button in the top-right corner.

3. Choose a permission profile.

4. Review the window displaying all users who have not yet been imported or linked.

5. Select the users you wish to bring into Forecast with this permission profile.

6. Click the Create button.

Linking existing Forecast users to BambooHR

1. Navigate to the People tab and open the team member's profile.

2. Locate the BambooHR section further down the page.

3. Choose the correct BambooHR user from the dropdown menu to link their accounts.

Importing time-off categories from BambooHR

1. Click on Admin in the top navigation bar.

2. Select Time Management from the dropdown menu.

3. Scroll down to the Time Off section.

4. Click Import from BambooHR.

5. In the pop-up window, select the time-off types you want to sync with Forecast.

6. Click Create.

Linking time-off categories

Linking your BambooHR time-off categories with Forecast is essential. This ensures that any approved time-off requests in BambooHR show up correctly in Forecast.

How to link time-off categories:

1. In Time Management, scroll down to the Time Off section.

2. Use the dropdown menu next to a specific time-off type to select and link the corresponding category.

How Time-Off Synchronization Works

When you connect BambooHR and Forecast, BambooHR becomes your primary system for managing time off.

Hourly Data Sync

Every hour, the integration automatically pulls approved time-off requests from BambooHR into Forecast. These requests are recorded in Forecast as both time-off allocations and corresponding timesheet entries.

Updates and Cancellations

The integration keeps your data clean by automatically updating Forecast based on changes made in BambooHR:

• Revoked Approvals: If a time-off request loses its approved status in BambooHR, it is removed from Forecast.

• Unlinked Categories: If a time-off category is unlinked, related time-off registrations are not removed from Forecast.

• Unlinked employee: If an employee is unlinked, their existing time-off registrations are not removed from Forecast.

Important System Rules

• No Historical Sync: To prevent duplicate entries, the system only syncs time-off requests created after the integration is enabled. Past requests will not be imported.

• BambooHR is the Source of Truth: Once enabled, you can no longer manually register time-off directly within Forecast. All time-off must be managed through BambooHR.

• Read-Only in Forecast: As long as the systems are linked, time-off registrations synced from BambooHR cannot be edited or modified from within Forecast.

Related articles

• Setting up the BambooHR integration for Forecast