---
title: "Connect Buddy Punch and Zoho CRM - APIANT.ai"
description: "When \"Employee Created\" fires in Buddy Punch, your agent runs \"Add or update record (upsert)\" in Zoho CRM."
canonical: "https://apiant.ai/connect/buddy-punch-to-zoho-crm"
---

# Connect Buddy Punch and Zoho CRM

When **Employee Created** fires in [Buddy Punch](https://apiant.ai/connections/buddy-punch), your agent runs **Add or update record (upsert)** in [Zoho CRM](https://apiant.ai/connections/zoho-crm), or **New or updated record** in Zoho CRM to **Create Department Code** in Buddy Punch. Describe the whole flow and it is built, tested on every scenario and kept running.

Buddy Punch **4** triggers Buddy Punch **15** actions Zoho CRM **2** triggers Zoho CRM **13** 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 Zoho CRM 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 and Zoho CRM can do together

### From Buddy Punch to Zoho CRM

- When **Employee Created** in Buddy Punch then **Add or update record (upsert)** in Zoho CRM
- When **Employee Updated** in Buddy Punch then **Add tag to record** in Zoho CRM

### From Zoho CRM to Buddy Punch

- When **New or updated record** in Zoho CRM then **Create Department Code** in Buddy Punch
- When **New record** in Zoho CRM then **Create Employee** in Buddy Punch

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 Zoho CRM

## Triggers and actions 6 triggers · 28 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.

- Trigger

**New or updated record**

Fires when a record is created or updated in the specified Zoho CRM module. Polls newest-first by Modified Time.

- Trigger

**New record**

Fires when a new record is created in the specified Zoho CRM module. Polls newest-first by Created Time.

- Action

**Add note**

Adds a note to a record in any supported Zoho CRM module.

- Action

**Add or update record (upsert)**

Insert a record, or update it if a duplicate is found, in the specified Zoho CRM module.

- Action

**Add tag to record**

Add one or more tags (comma-separated names) to a record in the specified module.

- Action

**Convert lead**

Convert a lead into a contact, account, and optionally a deal. Pass conversion options (e.g. Deals, assign_to) as the Conversion object.

- Action

**Create record**

Create a new record in the specified Zoho CRM module.

- Action

**Delete record**

Delete a record by ID from the specified Zoho CRM module.

- Action

**Find records**

Search for records in a module using Zoho CRM criteria, e.g. (Email:equals:foo@bar.com). Returns up to 200 matching records.

- Action

**Get record**

Retrieve a single record by ID from the specified Zoho CRM module.

- Action

**List notes**

Lists notes across all records in Zoho CRM (requires an administrator profile).

- Action

**List users**

Retrieves users in the Zoho CRM organization, optionally filtered by user type or IDs.

- Action

**Query records (COQL)**

Run a Zoho CRM Object Query Language (COQL) SELECT statement and return the matching records.

- Action

**Remove tag from record**

Remove one or more tags (comma-separated names) from a record in the specified module.

- Action

**Update record**

Update an existing record by ID in the specified Zoho CRM module.

## 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)
- [ **Zoho CRM** Zoho CRM makes it easy to get the complete picture of your sales cycle and stay on top of your business...](https://apiant.ai/connections/zoho-crm)

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 Zoho CRM

- [ **HubSpot to Zoho CRM** HubSpot is your all-in-one stop for all of your marketing software needs.](https://apiant.ai/connect/hubspot-to-zoho-crm)
- [ **Salesforce to Zoho CRM** Salesforce is a leading enterprise customer relationship management (CRM) platform.](https://apiant.ai/connect/salesforce-to-zoho-crm)
- [ **Slack to Zoho CRM** Slack is a messaging platform for teams. Post messages, manage channels, users, reminders, and react to...](https://apiant.ai/connect/slack-to-zoho-crm)
- [ **Google Sheets to Zoho CRM** Google Sheets](https://apiant.ai/connect/google-sheets-to-zoho-crm)
- [ **Gmail to Zoho CRM** Gmail is Google’s email service, featuring spam protection, search functions, and seamless integration with...](https://apiant.ai/connect/gmail-to-zoho-crm)
- [ **Google Calendar to Zoho CRM** Google Calendar is a time management tool providing scheduling features, event reminders, and integration...](https://apiant.ai/connect/google-calendar-to-zoho-crm)

Questions

## Buddy Punch and Zoho CRM, 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 Zoho CRM when something happens in Buddy Punch?

Any of Zoho CRM's 13 actions, including Create record, Update record, Add note and Add or update record (upsert). Your agent maps the data both ways and tests every scenario before it ships.

###

### Can it also run from Zoho CRM to Buddy Punch?

Yes. When something happens in Zoho CRM, your agent can act in Buddy Punch too. This page covers both directions: Zoho CRM's triggers and Buddy Punch's actions are listed here as well.

###

### Do I have to build a connector for Buddy Punch or Zoho CRM?

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 Zoho CRM 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.
