Lattice & BambooHR Integration Guide

Overview

Lattice is a performance management and employee engagement platform focused on goals, feedback, and continuous development. BambooHR is a cloud-based HR information system (HRIS) that centralizes employee records, benefits, and payroll administration. Together, they create a more cohesive employee experience by reducing manual data entry and keeping performance context aligned with official HR records.

The integration between these two platforms is facilitated through third-party connectors and middleware solutions rather than a direct native API partnership. This means the connection works reliably but may require some initial configuration to map fields and set sync schedules.

How the Integration Works

• Employee Data Synchronization: Core employee information—names, email addresses, departments, job titles, and manager relationships—flows from BambooHR to Lattice. This ensures Lattice always has current organizational structure and avoids duplicate manual entry.
• Bidirectional Goal & Performance Sync: Goals, performance ratings, and feedback cycles created in Lattice can be logged back to BambooHR as part of the employee’s permanent record, creating a single source of truth for performance history.
• Manager Hierarchy Alignment: Reporting structures and manager assignments in BambooHR automatically populate in Lattice, so feedback routing and goal cascading follow your actual organizational chart.
• Automated Field Mapping: Custom fields in both systems can be configured to map to one another, allowing department-specific workflows and compliance requirements to stay in sync without manual intervention.
• Scheduled or Real-Time Sync: Depending on the connector used (Zapier, Make, or a custom integration), data can sync on a set schedule (hourly, daily) or near real-time, reducing the window where the two systems show conflicting information.

Key Features & Capabilities

• Unified Employee Profiles: HR teams see performance goals and feedback history directly in BambooHR without logging into Lattice, reducing context switching and improving hiring and promotion decisions.
• Automatic Org Chart Updates: When you restructure teams or change reporting lines in BambooHR, those changes flow to Lattice automatically, ensuring performance reviews and goal alignment reflect current reality.
• Streamlined Onboarding: New hires created in BambooHR are automatically provisioned in Lattice with correct department, manager, and role information, so they can start participating in goal-setting immediately.
• Performance Data Retention: Annual reviews, ratings, and feedback cycles recorded in Lattice are archived in BambooHR as part of the employee’s permanent record, supporting compliance and succession planning.
• Reduced Double-Entry: Managers no longer need to update employee information in both systems; a single source of truth in BambooHR keeps Lattice current.
• Compliance & Audit Trail: Integrated data flows create a complete audit trail of performance conversations and decisions, useful for legal review and HR policy enforcement.

Setup Difficulty

Medium (15–30 minutes)

Setting up the Lattice–BambooHR integration does not require custom coding, but it does require careful field mapping and configuration. You’ll need to:

• Verify API credentials and permissions in both systems.
• Map BambooHR fields (e.g., “Department,” “Manager ID,” “Job Title”) to their Lattice equivalents.
• Test a small batch of employee records to confirm data flows correctly before enabling full sync.
• Configure sync frequency (e.g., daily at 2 AM) and decide whether to enable bidirectional sync or one-way flow.

If you use a pre-built connector (Zapier or Make), the setup is more straightforward and can be completed by a non-technical HR operations person. If you build a custom integration, add 2–4 hours for development and testing.

Alternatives & Workarounds

If the standard third-party integration doesn’t meet your needs, consider these options:

• Zapier: A no-code automation platform that can sync employee records, goals, and performance data between Lattice and BambooHR on a schedule. Useful if you need custom logic or want to add a third system (e.g., Slack, Jira) to the workflow.
• Make (formerly Integromat): Similar to Zapier but often more flexible for complex workflows. Good if you need conditional logic (e.g., “only sync employees in the Engineering department”).
• Custom API Integration: If you have an in-house development team, you can build a direct integration using BambooHR’s REST API and Lattice’s API. This gives you full control over data mapping and sync logic but requires ongoing maintenance.
• CSV Import/Export: For one-time data migrations or smaller organizations, you can export employee lists from BambooHR as CSV and import them into Lattice. This is manual but requires no technical setup.

Common Integration Scenarios

Scenario 1: Mid-Market Company with Distributed Teams

A 200-person SaaS company uses BambooHR for HR administration and Lattice for quarterly goal-setting and peer feedback. By integrating the two, the company ensures that when new employees are hired in BambooHR, they automatically appear in Lattice with the correct manager and department. Performance ratings from Lattice flow back to BambooHR, creating a complete employee development record that informs promotion and bonus decisions.

Scenario 2: Enterprise with Compliance Requirements

A financial services firm must maintain an audit trail of all performance conversations for regulatory purposes. The integration ensures that every goal, review, and feedback cycle in Lattice is automatically logged in BambooHR, creating an immutable record that satisfies compliance audits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the integration sync in real-time or on a schedule?

Most third-party connectors (Zapier, Make) sync on a schedule—typically every 15 minutes to once per day, depending on your plan. If you need true real-time sync, a custom API integration or a premium connector tier may be required. Check with your connector provider for specific latency guarantees.

What happens if an employee is deleted in BambooHR?

This depends on your connector configuration. Most integrations can be set to either deactivate the employee in Lattice (recommended for compliance) or delete them entirely. Verify your connector’s deletion policy before going live to ensure it matches your HR compliance requirements.

Can I map custom fields between Lattice and BambooHR?

Yes, most connectors allow custom field mapping. For example, you can sync a “Cost Center” field from BambooHR to Lattice for budget tracking. However, the specific fields available depend on your Lattice and BambooHR plan tiers. Consult your connector’s documentation or contact support to confirm which custom fields are supported.

What if the integration breaks or data stops syncing?

Check your connector’s logs for error messages (usually available in the Zapier/Make dashboard). Common causes include expired API credentials, field mapping errors, or rate-limit issues. Most connectors have built-in retry logic, but you may need to manually re-authenticate or adjust field mappings. Contact your connector provider’s support team if the issue persists.

Important Disclaimer

Integration features, API capabilities, and supported fields may change as Lattice and BambooHR release updates. This guide reflects current best practices as of publication, but we recommend verifying the latest integration details directly on Lattice’s and BambooHR’s official integration pages or with their support teams before committing to a full deployment. Always test the integration in a sandbox or staging environment first.