--- title: "Connect Buddy Punch to NREL - APIANT.ai" description: "When \"Employee Created\" fires in Buddy Punch, your agent runs \"Estimate solar energy production\" in NREL." canonical: "https://apiant.ai/connect/buddy-punch-to-nrel" --- # Connect Buddy Punch to NREL When **Employee Created** fires in [Buddy Punch](https://apiant.ai/connections/buddy-punch), your agent runs **Estimate solar energy production** in [NREL](https://apiant.ai/connections/nrel). Describe the whole flow and it is built, tested on every scenario and kept running. Buddy Punch **4** triggers Buddy Punch **15** actions NREL **5** actions What the catalog holds today. Ask for anything missing and your agent reads the API documentation and adds it. ## What do you want Buddy Punch and NREL to do together? Give your AI client this address. `https://mcp.apiant.ai` One connection does both: ask your client to act in an app once, or have it build an automation that keeps running. Any client that takes a remote MCP server. Nothing to install. Create your free account, then sign in once in your browser. ### Set it up in your client ### Claude Code Run this in the directory you want to work in. `claude mcp add --transport http -s project apiant-ai https://mcp.apiant.ai` Start Claude Code there, approve the server, and sign in in the browser page it opens. [Claude Code guide (opens in a new tab)](https://apiant.ai/docs/mcp/claude-code) ### Claude, web and desktop Open Customize, then Connectors, then Add custom connector, and paste the address. On Team and Enterprise an owner adds it first. [Setup guide (opens in a new tab)](https://apiant.ai/docs/mcp) ### Cursor Add the address to your MCP configuration as a server URL. Cursor signs you in in your browser. [Setup guide (opens in a new tab)](https://apiant.ai/docs/mcp) ### Zed Open Settings, then AI, then MCP Servers, then Add Server, then Add Remote Server. [Setup guide (opens in a new tab)](https://apiant.ai/docs/mcp) ### Codex and the ChatGPT desktop app Open Settings, then MCP servers, then Add server, and choose Streamable HTTP. From the terminal, Codex takes the address with its own add command and then signs you in. [Setup guide (opens in a new tab)](https://apiant.ai/docs/mcp) ### Any other MCP client Paste the address where the client asks for a remote MCP server URL, and name the server apiant-ai where it lets you. APIANT's skills reach the client over the same connection. [Setup guide (opens in a new tab)](https://apiant.ai/docs/mcp) Example flows ## What Buddy Punch can start in NREL - When **Employee Created** in Buddy Punch then **Estimate solar energy production** in NREL - When **Employee Updated** in Buddy Punch then **Find nearest alternative fuel stations** in NREL Starting points drawn from the triggers and actions in the catalog today. Describe the flow you need, at any depth, and your agent builds it and tests every scenario before it ships. Everything your agent can do with Buddy Punch and NREL ## Triggers and actions 4 triggers · 20 actions - Trigger **Employee Created** Triggers when a new employee is added to your Buddy Punch account. - Trigger **Employee Punched In** Triggers when an employee punches in, returning the punch with the employee, punch-in time, approval status and hours. Watches the current pay period's time cards. - Trigger **Employee Updated** Triggers when an employee in your Buddy Punch account is added or any of their details change. - Trigger **Punch in Changed** Triggers when an employee's punch-in in the current pay period is recorded or changed (time, approval status or notes). - Action **Assign Employee to Department Code** Assigns one or more employees to a Buddy Punch department code. - Action **Assign Employee to Location** Assigns one or more employees to a Buddy Punch location and returns the location. - Action **Create Department Code** Creates a new department code in Buddy Punch. - Action **Create Employee** Creates a new employee in your Buddy Punch account. - Action **Create Location** Creates a new location in your Buddy Punch account. - Action **Create Position** Creates a new position in your Buddy Punch account. - Action **Find Employee** Finds employees in your Buddy Punch account whose email, username, employee ID or full name matches the value you search for. - Action **Get Department Code** Returns the details of a specific department code in your Buddy Punch account. - Action **Get Location** Returns the details of a specific Buddy Punch location. - Action **Get Position** Returns a single Buddy Punch position by its ID. - Action **List Department Code Employees** Returns the employees assigned to a Buddy Punch department code. - Action **List Location Employees** Returns the employees assigned to a Buddy Punch location. - Action **Punch In** Punches an employee in on Buddy Punch, either the connected user or a chosen employee. - Action **Punch Out** Punches an employee out in Buddy Punch. Defaults to the connected user when no employee is given. - Action **Update Employee** Updates an existing employee in Buddy Punch, such as their name, email, username or active status. - Action **Estimate solar energy production** Estimates the energy production of a grid-connected photovoltaic system at a location using NREL PVWatts V8, returning annual and monthly AC output, solar radiation and capacity factor. - Action **Find nearest alternative fuel stations** Returns the alternative fuel stations nearest to a given latitude and longitude, ordered by distance, with optional filters such as fuel type, status, access and EV network. - Action **Find utility rates** Returns the annual average residential, commercial and industrial electricity rates ($/kWh) and the local utility company names for a location (2012 data). - Action **Get alternative fuel station** Returns the full details of one alternative fuel station by its station ID. - Action **List alternative fuel stations** Returns alternative fuel stations matching your filters, such as fuel type, state, ZIP code, access, status and EV charging network. ## Each app on its own - [ **Buddy Punch** Buddy Punch is an employee time tracking and scheduling app that lets your employees track their hours and...](https://apiant.ai/connections/buddy-punch) - [ **NREL** Government developer portal providing APIs for renewable energy, alternative fuel, buildings, and climate...](https://apiant.ai/connections/nrel) Reviews ## What our customers say ## More from Buddy Punch - [ **Buddy Punch to HubSpot** HubSpot is your all-in-one stop for all of your marketing software needs.](https://apiant.ai/connect/buddy-punch-to-hubspot) - [ **Buddy Punch to Salesforce** Salesforce is a leading enterprise customer relationship management (CRM) platform.](https://apiant.ai/connect/buddy-punch-to-salesforce) - [ **Buddy Punch to Slack** Slack is a messaging platform for teams. Post messages, manage channels, users, reminders, and react to...](https://apiant.ai/connect/buddy-punch-to-slack) - [ **Buddy Punch to Google Sheets** Google Sheets](https://apiant.ai/connect/buddy-punch-to-google-sheets) - [ **Buddy Punch to Gmail** Gmail is Google’s email service, featuring spam protection, search functions, and seamless integration with...](https://apiant.ai/connect/buddy-punch-to-gmail) - [ **Buddy Punch to Google Calendar** Google Calendar is a time management tool providing scheduling features, event reminders, and integration...](https://apiant.ai/connect/buddy-punch-to-google-calendar) ## More into NREL - [ **HubSpot to NREL** HubSpot is your all-in-one stop for all of your marketing software needs.](https://apiant.ai/connect/hubspot-to-nrel) - [ **Salesforce to NREL** Salesforce is a leading enterprise customer relationship management (CRM) platform.](https://apiant.ai/connect/salesforce-to-nrel) - [ **Slack to NREL** Slack is a messaging platform for teams. Post messages, manage channels, users, reminders, and react to...](https://apiant.ai/connect/slack-to-nrel) - [ **Google Sheets to NREL** Google Sheets](https://apiant.ai/connect/google-sheets-to-nrel) - [ **Gmail to NREL** Gmail is Google’s email service, featuring spam protection, search functions, and seamless integration with...](https://apiant.ai/connect/gmail-to-nrel) - [ **Google Calendar to NREL** Google Calendar is a time management tool providing scheduling features, event reminders, and integration...](https://apiant.ai/connect/google-calendar-to-nrel) Questions ## Buddy Punch and NREL, answered ### ### What can start an automation from Buddy Punch? Any of Buddy Punch's 4 triggers in the catalog, including Employee Created, Employee Updated, Punch in Changed and Employee Punched In. Describe the moment in plain language and your agent picks the right one. ### ### What can your agent do in NREL when something happens in Buddy Punch? Any of NREL's 5 actions, including Estimate solar energy production, Find nearest alternative fuel stations, Find utility rates and Get alternative fuel station. Your agent maps the data both ways and tests every scenario before it ships. ### ### Can it also run from NREL to Buddy Punch? NREL has no triggers in the catalog today, so automations start in Buddy Punch. If you need the other direction, ask: your agent reads NREL's API documentation and adds it. ### ### Do I have to build a connector for Buddy Punch or NREL? No. Both are in the catalog with their triggers and actions. You describe the automation; your agent builds it, tests every scenario and keeps it running. ### ### Can my AI client use Buddy Punch and NREL without building an automation? Yes. With your AI client connected to APIANT, ask it to do something in either app once and it runs that action on the spot. Ask for an automation and your agent builds it, tests every scenario and keeps it running. One connection covers both. ### ### What happens when something fails? Your agent works that out for you. It plans the failure paths along with the happy path, then tests every scenario before it ships. ### ### Is there a free plan? Yes. Every plan includes the agent, including free, and building from your own AI client spends no assistant credits.