To help you transition quickly and easily to Lightspeed Retail, you can import your existing inventory data, vendor data, and customer data.
Preparing the import file
- Download the import file template or use a file formatted identically to the template. Your file format can be:
- .XLSX (preferred)
- .CSV
- Open the import file template in Excel or Google Sheets.
If you are opening a .CSV in Excel, follow the instructions in Opening and saving import files with Excel to format the file correctly.
Important considerations for customer imports:
- Do not edit, add, delete, or reorder the columns in the template. This will cause errors and delay your import
- Each field has a 256 character maximum and does not support returns or line breaks (except the notes column).
- No special characters are allowed. This includes all non-English language characters.
- Custom fields cannot be imported, even if you already created them in your Retail POS account.
- Due to PCI compliance, customers' sensitive data, for example credit card information, cannot be stored in our systems. If we detect sensitive data in your file we will remove the file from the ticket and ask you to resubmit the file.
- Customer ID column
The import file contains these columns:
First Name
Imported into First Name field.
Last Name
Imported into Last Name field.
Title
Imported into Title field. Common titles include Dr., Mr., Ms., Mrs., and Mx.
Customer Type
Should have a Customer Type created. It is possible to create these during import so leave blank if you don't want to assign a customer type.
Imported into Custom Type drop-down.
Company
Imported into Company field.
DOB
Imported into Date of Birth field.
- Format "MM/DD/YYYY."
If you are using a different format, be sure to specify when you create the ticket.
Address 1
Imported into Address 1 field.
Address 2
Imported into Address 2 field.
City
Imported into City field.
State
Imported into State field.
For non-US customers, type in equivalent data (e.g. province).
ZIP Code
Imported into ZIP Code field.
For non-US customers, type in equivalent data (e.g. postcode, postal code).
- Format "12345" or "12345-1234" for US ZIP Codes.
Country
Imported into Country field.
Home phone
Imported into Home field in Phones section.
- Format "(123)123-1234" or "123-123-1234."
Work phone
Imported into Work field in Phones section.
- Format "(123)123-1234" or "123-123-1234."
Mobile
Imported into Mobile field in the Phones section.
- Format "(123)123-1234" or "123-123-1234."
Fax
Imported into Fax field in the Phones section.
- Format "(123)123-1234" or "123-123-1234."
Email 1
Imported into Email 1 field.
Email 2
Imported into Email 2 field.
Website
Imported into Website field.
Tags
Must have Tags created.
Imported into Tags field.
- Input multiple tags by separating with a comma.
Notes
Imported into Notes field. Allows new line characters and tabs. No character limit.
Tax Category
Must have sales tax set up.
Imported into Sales Tax field.
- If left blank, default sales tax will be applied.
- Input should match a sales tax existing on your account. If it does not, a new sales tax with the input will be created.
Discount
Should have discount rate set up. Can be created during import but not automatically set up. Must be done manually.
Imported into Discount field.
- If left blank, no discount will be applied.
Serialized Item Description
Imported into Item field under customer's Items tab.
To enter multiple serialized items, see Entering multiple serialized items for one customer section below.
Serialized Item Number
Imported into Serial field under the customer's Items tab.
Serialized Item Color
Imported into Color field under the customer's Items tab.
Serialized Item Size
Imported into Size field under customer's Items tab.
No Email
Imported into the Email field in the customer's Contact section.
- Input "0" if the customer has consented to receiving communications via email.
- Input "1" if the customer has not consented to receiving communications via email.
No Phone
Imported into the Phone field in the customer's Contact section.
- Input "0" if the customer has consented to receiving communications via phone.
- Input "1" if the customer has not consented to receiving communications via phone.
No Mail
Imported into the Mail field in the customer's Contact section.
- Input "0" if the customer has consented to receiving communications via mail.
- Input "1" if the customer has not consented to receiving communications via mail.
Verifying the import file
Scan the document for any erroneous data, which can cause the data import to fail.
- If any columns do not contain data other than the heading, delete the entire column.
- Remove special characters.
- Erase cells with N/A so that they have a blank field.
- Change cells with scientific numbers, such as 4.001E+11 (usually UPC or EAN values) so that they are regular integers instead, such as 40010000000.
- To do this in Excel, select the column with the scientific numbers. Click Format > Cells. Change the Category to Number, set the decimal places option to 0, and click OK.
- To do this in Google Sheets, select the column with the scientific numbers. Click Format > Number > Number.
- If using Excel: Check that the leading 0 has not been trimmed from UPC numbers. If it has been, type "0" (including the apostrophes) to the beginning of your UPC number.
- Make sure that your spreadsheet is a .XLSX (preferred) or .CSV file.
Submitting your spreadsheet to our Retail Imports team
After you prepare and verify your import spreadsheet file, create a ticket to submit it to our Retail Imports team.
- Click here to submit your request.
- Select Import request from the drop-down.
- Type Customer import into the Subject field.
- In the Import Type drop-down, select Inventory or Customer or Vendor Import.
- Fill in the Description field. Make sure that this includes:
- Your email address
- Your Support ID
Find your Support ID by clicking Help at the bottom-left corner of Retail POS. It will be a 6-digit number listed at the top of the pop-up window.
- Click Add file or drop files here and attach your spreadsheet.
- Click Submit.
Data import can take up to 5-7 business days. If we have to edit your data, we will send the file back to you for your approval. If your file is not formatted correctly, it will delay your import.
Entering multiple serialized items for one customer
If you need to enter multiple serialized items for one customer, some of the normal submission process will vary.
- Enter the customer data into your spreadsheet.
- Do not fill in serialized item information for the affected customer(s).
- Submit your spreadsheet as described in the steps outlined above, with the following exceptions:
- In your Description field, note that you need to enter multiple serialized items for one customer.
- The Retail Imports team will generate a new export and send it to you.
- Enter the serialized item data into the new export, following the instructions from the Retail Imports team.
- Send the updated export back to the Retail Imports team.