# Buddy Punch integrations: employees and punches

> Create an employee, add a punch and approve a time card in Buddy Punch, and start a workflow when Buddy Punch sends “Task created”.

**Canonical page:** https://tray.ai/connectors/buddy-punch-integrations/
**Categories:** Human resources
**Connects through:** HTTP Connector

## Overview

Buddy Punch is employee time tracking software for clocking in and out, scheduling shifts, approving time cards, managing time off and preparing payroll hours. Tray.ai connects to Buddy Punch through the HTTP Connector, so your workflows can call the Buddy Punch API alongside the rest of your stack.

## Use cases

### Employees

Read, create, and update employees in Buddy Punch from any Tray.ai workflow. The Buddy Punch API covers calls such as list employees and create an employee.

- List employees
- Create an employee
- Get an employee

### Punches

Read, create, delete, and manage punches in Buddy Punch from any Tray.ai workflow. The Buddy Punch API covers calls such as list punches and add a punch.

- List punches
- Add a punch
- Punch in

### Time cards

Read and update time cards in Buddy Punch from any Tray.ai workflow. The Buddy Punch API covers calls such as list time cards and get a time card.

- List time cards
- Get a time card
- Approve a time card

### Shifts

Create, update, and delete shifts in Buddy Punch from any Tray.ai workflow. The Buddy Punch API covers calls such as create a shift and update a shift.

- Create a shift
- Update a shift
- Delete a shift

### Locations

Read, create, update, and delete locations in Buddy Punch from any Tray.ai workflow. The Buddy Punch API covers calls such as list locations and create a location.

- List locations
- Create a location
- Update a location

### Time entries

Read, create, update, and delete time entries in Buddy Punch from any Tray.ai workflow. The Buddy Punch API covers calls such as list time entries and create time entries.

- List time entries
- Create time entries
- Update a time entry

## Challenges Tray.ai solves

### Keeping Buddy Punch credentials out of logs

A raw API call usually means pasting a key or token into the request, where it ends up in step inputs, logs, and screenshots.

**How Tray.ai helps:** Store Buddy Punch credentials once as a Tray.ai authentication and reference them from the HTTP Connector. Tray.ai masks authentication values in logs, so the secret never shows up in a step's input or output.

### Going from the Buddy Punch API docs to a working call

Translating an example request from API docs into a workflow step means copying the method, URL, headers, and body by hand.

**How Tray.ai helps:** Paste a cURL example from the Buddy Punch API docs into the HTTP Connector and Tray.ai fills in the method, URL, headers, and body for you.

### Handling files and non-JSON responses

Not every API answers in JSON. Some return XML, files, or binary data, or expect a multipart upload.

**How Tray.ai helps:** The HTTP Connector parses JSON and XML responses, returns files you can pass to the next step, and sends multipart form data for uploads.

## Frequently asked questions

### Does Tray.ai connect to Buddy Punch?

Yes. Tray.ai connects to Buddy Punch through the HTTP Connector, which calls the Buddy Punch API directly. Any call the Buddy Punch API documents can run as a step in a Tray.ai workflow.

### How does Tray.ai authenticate with Buddy Punch?

The Buddy Punch API uses a bearer token. You save it once as a Tray.ai authentication, and the HTTP Connector adds it to every request.

### Can I get a dedicated Buddy Punch connector?

Buddy Punch runs through the HTTP Connector rather than a dedicated connector. If your team wants one, the Tray.ai connector SDK can build a dedicated Buddy Punch connector from the Buddy Punch API.

## Learn more

- Intelligent Integration: https://tray.ai/platform/intelligent-ipaas/
- Merlin Agent Builder: https://tray.ai/platform/merlin-agent-builder/
- Agent Gateway for MCP: https://tray.ai/platform/agent-gateway/
- Book a demo: https://tray.ai/contact/