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Overview: The real-time GPS feature allows an employer to capture the live GPS route of workers when punched in. Managers can see the real-time GPS details of those they're assigned from our website and mobile app.
Important: Managers using Buddy Punch to track time may also be required to share their real-time GPS location to punch in/out. More information on how to do that can be found here.
Instructions:
View Real-Time GPS Details (Web)
Real-time GPS information can be viewed from the Buddy Punch website in a few different ways. The first is from the Manager Dashboard.
1. From the Dashboard under the Punched In section, select the Map View option. Here you'll see a map displaying the employee's most recently reported GPS position.
By clicking Route next to their name, you can see the full GPS route for their current punch or click Timecard to view their work hours in more detail:
Note: Clicking +Expand All or -Collapse All at the top right above the map allows you to expand or collapse employee information bubbles.
2. You can also switch to the List View and click the location icon to the right of a punch to view it in more detail:
3. The Timecard is another area where GPS information can be viewed. You can view GPS information for all punches in the pay period by choosing View Punches on Map or by selecting Map to the right of an individual punch:
4. The final place to view real-time GPS information on our website is by running the GPS Activity Report.
View Real-Time GPS Details (App)
1. To view real-time GPS information in-app, start by clicking the three dashes, or hamburger menu, in the top left-hand corner. (Left image below)
2. Once the menu is open, select Map. (Middle image below)
3. You can then filter by Employee and Date. (Right image below)
4. By default, you'll see the most recent GPS data for the selected employee. To see their route for the day, select the location icon:
View GPS Activity Report
1. To view the GPS Activity Report, start by clicking Reports in the top navigation, followed by GPS Activity:
2. From here, you can select Employee(s), enter a Start/End Date, and Submit to populate GPS data:
3. If there's any data available, a list of employees will populate on the left-hand side under GPS Positions. Any employees without GPS data will be listed under No GPS:
4. For those under GPS Positions, the color of their name will be the same color as their route. By clicking an employee's name, you can center focus on their route:
FAQ
Q: What do the dots on the map represent?
A: Each dot indicates a timestamp showing where the employee was located at that time. You can hover over a dot to see the employee's name and the time the GPS coordinates were captured.
Q: What do the arrows mean on the lines between dots?
A: The arrows between each dot indicate the direction traveled based on the chronological order in which the coordinates were received.
Q: Can employees view their GPS route history?
A: Currently, route mapping (the path between punch points) is only available to managers with the proper permissions and administrators. Employees can review their timesheet entries and locations, but the full “route” view remains a manager and administrator-facing feature to maintain data privacy.
Q: Can GPS be captured on breaks or mid-shift job switches?
A. Buddy Punch records GPS only at punch events—clock-in, clock-out, and mid-shift job switches. It does not generate a GPS stamp for time spent on break, but as soon as an employee clocks back in or switches tasks, a new GPS location is captured.
Q: What GPS accuracy can I expect, and is it audit-ready?
A: Buddy Punch relies on each device’s built-in GPS hardware, typically accurate to 5–10 meters outdoors (indoor accuracy may vary). Every GPS stamp is saved with a precise timestamp and latitude/longitude, so you can confidently use these records for internal audits and compliance checks.
Q: Can GPS data be exported?
A: No. GPS information is view-only: basic location stamps appear on Time Cards and the Dashboard, and real-time breadcrumbs show on Time Cards, the Dashboard, and the GPS Activity Report. There’s currently no export option for any GPS data.
Q: What happens in low-signal environments—will real-time GPS coordinates still be recorded?
A: If Real-Time GPS is On and an employee's GPS signal is lost or otherwise does not have a strong enough signal strength to successfully report GPS coordinates, they won’t be able to punch in, out, or switch between jobs.
If the employee is already punched in and loses signal, there will be no coordinates reflected on the GPS Activity Report or on the Map section of an employee's timecard during that timeframe.
Once there is a stable, strong connection again, the coordinates will be recorded from that point forward. This could appear as large gaps in the data points on the GPS Activity report and the employee's Map, as if an employee is "teleporting" from one location to another, rather than following a continuous route.