BambooHR: How To Sync Employee Data To CultureBot

CultureBot needs just a few employee details to power birthdays, anniversaries, recognition, and other culture features. While BambooHR doesn’t offer a direct CultureBot integration, you can easily export this data in CSV format and send it to your CultureBot inbox. This article will show you how to create a custom employee data report, export it as CSV, and keep it updated on a regular schedule.

What Information to Include

When creating your BambooHR export, be sure to include the following fields:

• Employee Name
• Employee Work Email
• Employee Date of Birth (DOB)
• Employee Hire Date (Start Date)
• Manager (Supervisor’s name or work email)
• Employee Location
• Employee Department

These fields ensure CultureBot can display birthdays, anniversaries, reporting relationships, and more.

Step 1 – Create a Custom Employee Report

1. Log into your BambooHR dashboard.
2. Go to the Reports tab in the main menu.
3. Click New Report and select Custom Report.

4. Name the report (e.g., “CultureBot Employee Export”) and add a short description.

   In the report builder, add the required fields:

   • First Name
   • Last Name
   • Work Email
   • Date of Birth
   • Hire Date
   • Supervisor (Manager)
   • Department
   • Location
5. (Optional) Add any custom fields if your organization uses them.
6. Run the report once to confirm the data looks correct.
7. Save the report so you can reuse it anytime.

Step 2 – Export the Report to CSV

1. Open the saved report.
2. At the top right, click Export.
3. Select CSV as the format.
4. BambooHR will download the CSV file to your computer.

You can now attach this CSV to an email and send it to your CultureBot support inbox.

Step 3 – Keep It Updated

Manual Updates (Simple Option)

• Each week or month, reopen your saved report, export to CSV, and email it to CultureBot.
• This takes only a minute or two once the report is configured.
• Add a calendar reminder to ensure it’s done consistently.

Automated Options (Advanced)

BambooHR doesn’t have a built-in scheduler for CSV exports, but you can automate the process with third-party tools:

• Flatly: Syncs BambooHR employee data to CSV in Google Drive, Dropbox, or SFTP on a schedule.
• Skyvia: Schedules BambooHR exports to CSV without coding.
• Zapier: Use “Schedule by Zapier” plus BambooHR API to fetch and email data.
• BambooHR API: For technical teams, use the API to pull reports in CSV format and send them automatically.

If your team has IT support or uses integration platforms, these options can give you a fully automated sync.

Best Practices

• Start simple: Begin with manual weekly or monthly exports until you’re comfortable with the process.
• Secure your data: Employee data includes sensitive information. If you automate, use secure delivery methods like SFTP.
• Keep consistency: Don’t change or rename fields once set up—this ensures CultureBot processes your data correctly.

BambooHR Articles That Are Helpful:

• Custom Reports Builder
• BambooHR Custom Reporting Tips, Hints, and How-To Videos