Importing customers in bulk with an Excel spreadsheet

The procedure for importing bulk customers is described here.

To start with a sample file, you can:

• Download the generic sample file from the platform
• Export an existing customer and reuse the file as starting point.

It is essential to use a file that the platform can understand. That implies that:

• The format should be .xls (Excel 97-2003).
  => Warning! When saving your changes, the format may be overwritten to something else!

• The file structure must remain identical to the one used in the sample file:
  • Do not add or delete columns
  • Avoid hyperlinks
  • The 'Customers' tab must remain as is and cannot be renamed
  • Mandatory data
    • • Customer number (except if the autonumbering setting is active)
      • Customer's name
      • Delivery channel (email ; print_and_post ; print_at_home)
      • Address columns : Country code (BE, NL, FR, UK, LU, …) You'll find a full list of country codes here
  • Recommended data:
    • • Adress columns
        • Address
        • Post code
        • City
      • Language (BE, NL, LU, F, GB, .... if not indicated, the default language of the platform will be used)
      • TRN type (Trade Registration Number = company number) - it can be CBE, CoC, SIREN, SIRET
      • VAT number

• Format requirements of certain columns
  • Customer number
    • The format must be text
  • CBE or VAT number:
    • No dots, no spaces
    • Format: BE0123456789
    • Warning! A check is done on the CBE number. A CBE number is limited to one customer only.
  • Post code:
    • The format must be text
      
      • The post code must be preceded by the ´ character in order to guarantee the correct interpretation of the data.  

• The file cannot contain too many lines. Uploading a file that is too big will increase the risk of a technical time-out, causing the import to fail. We recommend a maximum of 150 lines per upload.