Import customers from a spreadsheet

If you already keep your customers in a spreadsheet, you can bring them across in one go instead of typing each one.

The import button is on the computer version of the Customers screen. Not there? See I can't see a setting or button. On a phone you add customers one at a time.

Before you start

Save your spreadsheet as a CSV file. In Excel or Google Sheets, choose Save as or Download, then pick CSV.

The first row must name the columns:

• A name column and a phone column are required.
• A company column is optional.

RateMate also recognises common alternatives. For the name: customer, customer name, full name, contact, contact name. For the phone: phone number, mobile, mobile number, cell, cellphone, cell number, number, whatsapp, whatsapp number, contact number, tel. For the company: company name, business, business name, organisation. Capital letters do not matter.

Phone numbers can start with 0 or +27. Spaces and dashes are fine.

Import your file

1. Tap Customers, then Import CSV.
2. Under CSV file, choose your file.
3. Tick the consent box: "I confirm everyone in this file is my customer and I have a lawful basis to contact them about their service (logged for POPIA)."
4. Tap Check File. RateMate shows how many customers are ready to import, and lists any rows it will skip.
5. Tap Import followed by the number, for example Import 42 customers.

You see how many were imported and how many rows were skipped. Tap Done.

If you choose a different file after checking, you need to tap Check File again.

Limits

• Up to 1,000 customers in one file. Split a bigger list into two files.
• The file must be under 1 MB.

What gets skipped

The preview names the line number and the reason for each skipped row. It shows the first 20.

• No name, or a name shorter than 2 characters.
• A missing phone number, or one that is not a valid number.
• A number that appears twice in the file. The first one is kept.
• A number you already have as a customer. Their details are not changed.
• A customer who opted out earlier. They are not added back. See Opt a customer out or back in.

Good to know

• Importing sends nothing. Send requests when the jobs are done, as in Send a feedback request.
• The consent tick is required, and RateMate records it for each customer imported.
• Members can import too.