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Importing customer data

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

  1. Download the import file template or use a file formatted identically to the template. Your file format can be:
    • .CSV (preferred)
    • .TXT
    • .XLS
    • .XLSX
  2. Open the import file template in Excel or Google Sheets.

To avoid import errors, do not edit, add, delete, or reorder the columns in the template.

Each field has a 255 character maximum and does not support returns or line breaks.

The import file contains these columns:

The customer data import spreadsheet showing the columns First Name, Last Name, and Title.

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.

The customer data import spreadsheet showing the columns Customer Type, Company, and DOB.

Customer Type

Must have Customer Type created.

Imported into Custom Type drop-down.

Company

Imported into Company field.

DOB

Imported into Date of Birth field.

  • Format "MM/DD/YYYY."

The customer data import spreadsheet showing the columns Address 1, Address 2, and City.

Address 1

Imported into Address 1 field.

Address 2

Imported into Address 2 field.

City

Imported into City field.

The customer data import spreadsheet showing the columns State, ZIP Code, and Country.

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.

The customer data import spreadsheet showing the columns Home phone, Work phone, and Mobile.

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."

The customer data import spreadsheet showing the columns Fax, Email 1, and Email 2.

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.

The customer data import spreadsheet showing the columns Website, Custom, and Tags.

Website

Imported into Website field.

Custom

Must have Custom Field created.

Imported into Custom Fields.

Tags

Must have Tags created.

Imported into Tags field.

  • Input multiple tags by separating with a comma.

The customer data import spreadsheet showing the columns Notes, Tax Category, and Discount.

Notes

Imported into Notes field.

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

Must have discount rate set up.

Imported into Discount field.

  • If left blank, no discount will be applied.

The customer data import spreadsheet showing the columns Serialized Item Description, Serialized Item Number, and Serialized Item Color.

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.

The customer data import spreadsheet showing the columns Serialized Item Size and No Email.

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.

The customer data import spreadsheet showing the columns No Phone and No Mail.

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, such as ☺↨♪♫♀♂¶▓ so that they display the correct data.
  • 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 .CSV (preferred), .TXT, .XLS, or .XLSX 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.

  1. Click here to submit your request.
  2. Select Import request from the drop-down.

    Lightspeed import request form with drop-down to select import type.

  3. Type Customer import into the Subject field.

    Import request form with areas to fill in CC, Subject, Import Type, Description, and add Attachment(s).

  4. In the Import Type drop-down, select Inventory or Customer or Vendor Import.
  5. Fill in the Description field. Make sure that this includes:
    1. Your email address
    2. Your Account ID (found by clicking Help at the bottom-left of your Retail POS screen)
  6. Click Add file or drop files here and attach your spreadsheet.
  7. 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.

  1. Enter the customer data into your spreadsheet.
    1. Do not fill in serialized item information for the affected customer(s).
  2. Submit your spreadsheet as described in the steps outlined above, with the following exceptions:
    1. In your Description field, note that you need to enter multiple serialized items for one customer.
  3. The Retail Imports team will generate a new export and send it to you.
  4. Enter the serialized item data into the new export, following the instructions from the Retail Imports team.
  5. Send the updated export back to the Retail Imports team.

What's next?

Searching for customers

Understand how to search for a specific customer.

Learn more

Managing customer data

Modify, merge, export, archive, or delete customer data.

Learn more

Attachments

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