---
title: "Bulk Product Import"
description: "How to import products, contacts, and prices from Excel or CSV with the smart importer."
keywords: ["inventory", "bulk import", "import", "excel", "csv"]
lastUpdated: "2026-07-26"
---

# Bulk Product Import

The **smart importer** lets you create or update hundreds or thousands of records in a few steps, using **any Excel or CSV file** — you don't need to fit Sarah's fixed template.

Ideal for:

- **Initial migration** from another system
- Periodic price updates
- Large product catalogs or customer/supplier lists

## Where to import

| What | Where |
|---|---|
| Products + initial stock | **Products** → **Load** button |
| Contacts (customers or suppliers) | **Contacts** → **Load Contacts** |
| Prices / costs by code | **Products** → **Update $** → **Load from File** tab |

## Importer flow (4 steps)

### 1. File

- Drag and drop or select `.csv`, `.xlsx`, or `.xls`
- For products: choose the warehouse for initial stock
- For contacts: choose customer or supplier type

### 2. Columns

Sarah auto-detects file structure:

- **Heuristics** for common column names (name, price, cost, barcode, etc.)
- **AI** when the file uses non-standard layouts

You can adjust:

- Active sheet (multi-tab Excel)
- Header row index
- Column → Sarah field mapping

### 3. Preview

- **Valid** rows, **errors**, or (for prices) **unmatched** products
- "Errors only" filter
- Up to 100 rows shown on screen (remaining rows still import)

### 4. Import

- Batch progress indicator
- Summary: imported / failed
- **Download error CSV** when rows failed

## Suggested columns (not required)

The system maps automatically. Useful references:

**Products:** name, description, cost, price, quantity, brand, barcode, SKU

**Contacts:** name, ID type/number, email, phone, address, city, state, zip, country

**Prices:** barcode or SKU + cost and/or price

## Best practices

- Start with a small file (10–20 rows)
- Review mapping before confirming
- Download the error CSV, fix, and re-import failed rows only
- Consider a backup before very large imports