CRM
Client import
Bring clients in from a spreadsheet (CSV or Excel) in three guided steps, with a safe preview before anything is saved.
Contents: Who can use it · Prepare your file · Import step by step · Options explained · Example · FAQ
Who can use it
Staff with the client import permission. Where: CRM → Clients → Import. The page says "Back to clients" at the top.
Prepare your file
- A CSV or Excel file, up to 10 MB and 10,000 rows. If it has more rows, only the first 10,000 are imported.
- The first row must hold the column names.
- A file exported from the client list imports back as it is.
- Every client needs a name: map either First name or Full name.
- A Company column links each client to the company of that name (capital letters and extra spaces ignored); a company that does not exist yet is created.
Import step by step
- Choose file. Drop a file on the box or click to choose it, then Continue.
- Check columns. 9bx guesses what each column holds from its heading. Change any wrong guess, or choose Do not import for a column. Custom fields appear as "custom field".
- Set the Options (below).
- Look at First rows, checked: each row is marked New, Update, Skip or Error, with a note such as "Updates {name} ({code})". Nothing is saved yet.
- Click Import n rows. You see progress ("Importing…") and then Import finished with counts: Added, Updated, Skipped, Failed.
- If rows failed, use Download failed rows (CSV), fix them and use Import another file. Go to clients returns to the list.
Choose another file at any time to start over.
Options explained
| Option | Choices |
|---|---|
| A row that is already a client (matched by client number, email or phone, in any branch) | Skip it (recommended), Update the client with the row, Add it as a new client anyway |
| Branch for new clients | Pick a branch. Empty means the branch you are working in |
Example scenario
A small ISP in Chattogram exports 3,200 subscribers from its old billing tool. The file has columns "Customer ID", "Name", "Mobile", "Zone". The admin maps Customer ID to Unique number, Name to Full name, Mobile to Phone and Zone to a custom field "Zone". She chooses Skip it for existing clients, checks the preview, imports, and downloads 12 failed rows with invalid phone numbers to fix.
Tips
- Run the import with Skip it first; use Update only when the file is the newer truth.
- Create custom fields before the import so you can map columns to them (Custom fields).
- Keep the failed-rows CSV and re-import only that file.
Troubleshooting and FAQ
"Map a name column". Choose First name or Full name for one of the columns.
The import stopped. Check your connection and try again; clients already added are not duplicated if you keep Skip it selected.
Phone numbers fail. A number can belong to one client only when the unique-phone rule is on (General setup).