Format your file correctly before you import, so every record comes into Pipeline CRM cleanly and without errors.
Supported file types: CSV, XLS, and XLSX. Contacts can also be imported from a vCard file.
Rules that apply to every import
- Add clear column headers to the first row. Headers don't need to match Pipeline CRM's field names exactly — just make them easy to recognize (for example, "Company Name," "Email," "Close Date").
- Give each record its own row. Every row should be a complete record, even if that means repeating a value like the company name.
- Match your columns to Pipeline CRM fields. View the list of default fields. If your data doesn't fit, create a custom field before you import.
- Decide who owns the records. Companies, people, and deals all have an owner. Add an Owner column to set it per record — each name must match the user's name in your account settings exactly. If you don't include an Owner column, every record is assigned to the user who ran the import.
- Clean up the file. Remove blank rows and columns, and check spelling and punctuation — clean files import faster and with fewer errors.
Tip: Import in this order — Companies → People → Deals — so your people and deals can link to companies that already exist.
Download a template
For an example of a correctly formatted file, download one of our CSV templates:
Your file may have more or fewer columns than the template, depending on which default fields you use and which custom fields you've created. You can add columns for data unique to your business, as long as a matching field already exists in Pipeline CRM.
Companies
Give every company a unique name. Pipeline CRM requires company names to be unique. If you have several locations with the same name, tell them apart with a naming convention:
- Starbucks - 1912 Pike Pl
- Starbucks - 102 Pike St
If your file has duplicate company names, only the first entry imports. You'll receive an email listing the entries that couldn't be imported.
People
- Names — use separate First Name and Last Name columns, or a single column in one of these formats:
- First Name Last Name
- Last Name, First Name
- First Name, Last Name
- Link people to companies — add a Company Name column. The name must match what's already in Pipeline CRM exactly.
- Set the contact type — decide whether everyone is a Contact or a Lead during the import, or add a column to assign each person individually.
- Add tags — apply tags to the whole import, or add a Tags column. For multiple tags, use a separate column per tag, or one column with tags separated by commas.
People are checked for duplicates by work email. If two rows share an email, only the first imports.
Deals
- Link deals to companies — add a column for the company name. It must match what's already in Pipeline CRM exactly, so check for typos and extra spaces.
- Link deals to people — include a column with one of the following:
- Person Full Name (must be unique)
- Person Email
- Person ID (find this by exporting your people records, or in the person's profile URL)
You can associate more than one person with a deal — the first person listed becomes the primary contact. During import, map the column to Person (Full name, email, ID).
Deals are not checked for duplicates. Every deal row in your file will import, even if a matching deal already exists.
Need help? Contact support at customercare@pipelinecrm.com.