How to Import Customers

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Import Customers

To prepare to import customers into simPRO:

1. Download and add data to simPRO's Customer Import Template for:
   • Australia
   • New Zealand
   • United Kingdom
   • United States
   • Netherlands
   • Ireland
2. Alternatively, you can create your own import list and leave out any fields that do not apply to your customers.
3. Save your file in your system as a compatible file type: CSV, .txt, or ZIP. Consult your spreadsheet software for file saving instructions if required.
4. Separate your data using the same or similar headings as the Customer Import Template.
   • If applicable, data for customers' physical addresses and mailing addresses must be separate and clearly mapped, as this information is important for importing customer sites.
5. Ensure information is accurate, up-to-date and spelled correctly.
6. Remove any special characters (such as ? # $ % @ !) as these may not import correctly.
7. Save your file again.

simPRO can recognise and import all headings and information listed in the Customer Import Template.

If you are updating customers with the same name, simPRO can distinguish them by Customer ID.

You may choose to include a Notes column containing details about a customer to upload to the Notes text box in Profile > Settings in the customer card file. Alternatively, you can import customer notes to be viewed in the Notes tab of the customer card file.

If customers were created during an initial accounting package import, adjust your If Customer Already Exists import settings accordingly to avoid creating duplicate customer card files.

After preparing your customer list, work through the following steps to import your list into simPRO.

Adjust import settings

To adjust customer import settings, go to Utilities > Import > Customers > Customers.

The options available include:

First Record Is	Select Header Record if your list's first row contains column titles, or select Data Record if your list's first row contains specific data.
Create New Site	Select Yes if you want to create new site card files to be associated with the applicable customers. Select No if you do not wish to create new sites. The new site is created with details from the customer fields, such as street address, suburb, and postcode / ZIP code / Eircode.
If Custom List Value Not Found	If any of the entries are a drop-down list in simPRO, for instance, in Custom Fields or the State drop-down list in the Details tab of the customer card file, and your file contains any additional values or 'custom list values' not available in the relevant list, select Create New List Option to add the additional value to the drop-down list in your customer card files. Select Reject and Warn to ignore the field and receive a warning when the customer list has been uploaded that the field was not created.
Import Options	Importing customers are matched by Customer ID and Customer Name. If the Customer ID or Name in the import file match a Customer ID or Name in simPRO, the import option determines if these are updated in simPRO or created as a new customer. Select: Update Only to update existing customers and not create new customers. Update and Create to update existing customers and create new customers. Create Only to create new customers if an existing customer is not found, and not update any existing customers. Always Create New to always create new customers, even if a matching customer exists.

Leads are not transferred to your accounting package when exporting data through your accounting link.

Select an import file

To select an import file:

1. Go to Utilities > Import > Customers > Customers.
2. Adjust customer import settings, then click Choose File / Browse.
3. Locate your customer import file and click Open.
4. Click Next.

Match import columns

After selecting a customer import file, manually match or review your list columns with the fields available in simPRO. You may have both simPRO and your list open at the same time.

To match import columns:

1. Select your import file as above.
2. Use the drop-down lists to match your import file columns with the fields available in simPRO.
   • To leave a field out of the import, select Ignore.
3. Click Import Customers.

If you have a large list of customers, you can navigate away and work in other areas of simPRO, then return to the import page to check on your import. You can only perform one import at a time.

Check import success

After uploading an import file, the Customer Import Complete page displays a breakdown of your import, including Customers Added / Updated / Ignored and Sites Created.

Click Customers imported successfully to download a CSV file of imported customers for your records, with each customer line containing their new simPRO-assigned Customer ID.

Click Continue to perform another import.

After a successful import, it is recommended you manually check customer card files to ensure customer data has imported correctly. To do this, go to People > Customers, click an imported customer, and check Profile > Details for errors. Manually amend if required.

If your customer import file does not contain a First & Last Name for individual customers or a Company Name for companies, the import fails and you receive an error message.

To amend the error, click OK, then enter details in the required fields in your import list and restart the import process.

If your file contains other errors, an error message displays on the Import Customer Summary page, and the table displays the number of errors found.

Click the blue link to download a CSV file of import errors. The Error Text column explains why entries failed. Amend your customer import list accordingly and restart the import process.

For additional training, complete an interactive material in the simPRO's Learning Toolbox.