Using Directory Sync for Roster Management

Last updated: February 24, 2026

What is Directory Sync?

A flexible, reliable way to keep your people and team structure up to date in Span. 

NOTE: The directory sync features set is in early access. Please reach out to your Span rep if you’d like to work with us to set up your directory sync. 

Why Directory Sync?

Many organizations use an HRIS to store basic employee information, but most do not maintain a complete engineering team hierarchy there. Our HRIS syncs (via Kombo) handled people data but couldn’t sync team structure, meaning customers had to manually keep the team structure up to date in Span. 

The new Directory Sync solves this by allowing you to pull data from multiple sources, combine it, review the results, and apply updates with confidence.

What Directory Sync Can Do

Sync People From Your HRIS or Any Other Source

  • Continue using your HRIS sync through Kombo

  • Or send people and/or team data directly via our API

You can choose whichever method works best for your team.  Note that most customers initially upload their people data via CSV during the POC. The directory sync will update existing records. 

Sync Team Hierarchy From Any System

Because most customers don’t store engineering hierarchy in their HRIS, Directory Sync lets you provide this data separately—via API, CSV, or another internal system.

Combine Multiple Data Sources

You can mix and match:

  • HRIS for people records

  • API for team hierarchy

  • COMING SOON: GitHub (or other VCS) for usernames

Directory Sync automatically merges these into one unified company directory.

Approve All Changes Before They Go Live

Whenever new data comes in, Directory Sync:

  1. Pulls data from all configured sources

  2. Calculates a staged update

  3. Lets you review and approve the changes

Additions and deletions of people, teams and memberships are reviewable, but individual field changes (such as a title change) are not. No updates are applied until you explicitly approve them. 

Syncs Automatically When Data Changes

There is no fixed schedule. Whenever data changes in any of your connected sources, Span prepares a new staged sync for your review.

Using the Directory Sync

Right now, the Directory Sync is behind a feature flag. Work with your Span rep to enable the Directory Sync in your Span account.

Span provides OpenAPI documentation for the sync endpoint (below).  Once your data is flowing in, we’ll activate the Directory Sync page so you can view and validate your staged data before applying it.

Correcting Data

If something looks incorrect in the staged sync, you can:

  • Fix the data in your source system and let Directory Sync pick up the change

  • Or contact Span for assistance

Once corrected, a new staged update will appear for you to review and approve. 

Permissions

To manage Directory Sync, a user needs the global Member Management permission.

Best Practices

For the most reliable, complete sync:

  • Use our API as the source of truth for both people and team hierarchy whenever possible

  • Use your HRIS for basic employee data if it is accurate and complete

Summary

Directory Sync allows you to:

  • Keep your people directory up to date automatically

  • Sync engineering hierarchies from any system

  • Combine multiple sources into one unified directory

  • Review and approve all changes before they go live

  • Maintain data accuracy without manual updates