Overview: The real-time GPS feature allows an employer to capture the live GPS route of an employee when punched in. If you are an employee who has been required to share their real-time GPS location, then you will need to allow for certain permissions in the app.
Important: Buddy Punch does not track your location when you are not punched in.
Instructions:
Enable Real-Time GPS: Android
When you first log in as an employee after real-time GPS has been enabled, you’ll be asked to share your location via a few different messages.
1. The first message explains why we're asking you to share your location, with the option to Deny or Accept. If you choose to Deny, you cannot track time. To proceed, click Accept. (Left image below)
2. You'll then be asked to share your Precise or Approximate location and choose when the app can track your location. For real-time GPS tracking, you need to select Precise and While using the app. (Right image below)
3. You'll be prompted to further update your choice to Allow all the time by choosing Continue. (Left image below)
4. After clicking continue you should be taken to the Buddy Punch application settings where you can view the Location Permissions. (Middle image below)
5. Ensure that Allow all the time is selected and that Use precise location is toggled On. (Right image below)
6. Head back to the Buddy Punch app, and as one final step, you'll need to share your Motion & Fitness by choosing Continue. (Left image below)
7. And then click Allow. (Right image below)
8. You should now have all the proper permissions enabled to track your hours while the real-time GPS feature is enabled. If by chance this process didn't work, you will receive an error message when trying to punch in.
In this case, it's advised to go through the steps outlined above again:
Enable Real-Time GPS: iOS
When you first log in as an employee after real-time GPS has been enabled, you’ll be asked to share your location via a few different messages.
You will need to follow the prompts and update your GPS settings accordingly to punch in/out while the feature is enabled.
In addition to allowing GPS, you may also be asked to enable the motion & fitness feature on your device which you can find by going to Settings --> Privacy & Security --> Motion & Fitness and enabling Fitness Tracking:
FAQ
Q: Does Buddy Punch monitor GPS at all times?
A: When using our real-time GPS feature, an employee's location is tracked and recorded while they are punched in. We do not track their location when punched out.
Q: How much data is used when real-time GPS is enabled?
A: The data usage for real-time GPS tracking varies based on several factors, including how often location updates are sent and overall app activity. In most cases, it uses a small amount of data compared to other common apps. You can check your device settings to see exactly how much data Buddy Punch is using.
Q: How much battery is used when real-time GPS is enabled?
A: Battery usage depends on factors like device age, battery health, and signal strength. Real-time GPS tracking does require additional battery power, but Buddy Punch is designed to balance accuracy while minimizing drain. You can check your phone’s battery settings to monitor Buddy Punch’s impact on battery life.
Q: I received a notification on my Android device telling me that Buddy Punch can always track my location. Am I being tracked all the time?
A: This notification is generated by modern Android operating systems. They periodically let you know if any apps can always record your location. This is a great privacy feature but can be a little concerning. Buddy Punch will only record your location while you are punched in. When you receive this notification it does not mean that we are currently tracking you, just that we did gather location data while the app was not on the screen. However, we only record that data in Buddy Punch when you're punched in.
Q: I received a notification on my iPhone device telling me that Buddy Punch is using my location in the background. Am I being tracked all the time?
A: Just like with Android devices, this notification is generated by modern Apple operating systems. They periodically let you know if any apps can always record your location. Buddy Punch will only record your location while you are punched in. When you receive this notification it does not mean that we are currently tracking you, just that we did gather location data while the app was not on the screen. However, we only record that data in Buddy Punch when you're punched in.