Importing Clients
If you have an existing client database in a spreadsheet or another system, you can bulk import them into Launchpad rather than adding each one manually. This saves hours of data entry and gets your CRM up and running quickly.
Before you start
Prepare your client data in a CSV (comma-separated values) file. Most spreadsheet applications like Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets can export to CSV format.
Required columns
Your CSV file should include at least:
Business Name — the client's company or organisation name
Email — primary contact email address
Optional columns
You can also include:
Contact Name — your main contact person
Phone — contact phone number
Address — street address
City/Town — location
State — state or territory
Postcode — postal code
Business Type — category (e.g., Tour Operator, Accommodation, Attraction)
Notes — any additional information
Tags — comma-separated tags for categorisation
How to import clients
Go to CRM from the main menu
Select Clients from the hub menu
Click the Import button in the top right
Click Choose File and select your CSV file
Review the column mapping screen
Mapping your columns
Launchpad will attempt to automatically match your CSV columns to CRM fields. Review each mapping:
Check that each column is matched to the correct field
Use the dropdown to change any incorrect mappings
Select Skip for any columns you don't want to import
Click Continue when mappings are correct
Preview and confirm
Before the import runs:
Review the preview showing the first few records
Check that data appears in the correct fields
Note any warnings about missing required fields
Click Import to proceed
After importing
Once the import completes, you'll see a summary showing:
Successfully imported — records added to your CRM
Skipped — records that couldn't be imported (with reasons)
Duplicates — records that matched existing clients
Reviewing imported clients
Go to Clients
Sort by Date Added to see your newly imported records
Spot-check a few records to ensure data imported correctly
Add any missing information as needed
Handling duplicates
If your import file contains clients that already exist in your CRM:
Match by email — clients with the same email address are flagged
Match by name — similar business names are highlighted
Choose action — skip duplicates, update existing records, or create new entries
We recommend skipping duplicates on your first import, then using the merge function to combine records if needed.
Tips for successful imports
Clean your data first — remove blank rows and fix obvious errors in your spreadsheet
Use consistent formatting — standardise phone number formats and state abbreviations
Start small — test with a small batch of 10-20 clients first
Include tags — pre-categorise clients to save time organising later
Back up first — if updating existing records, export your current data as a backup
Troubleshooting common issues
"File format not supported"
Ensure your file is saved as CSV (.csv), not Excel (.xlsx) or another format.
"Required field missing"
Every row needs at least a business name and email. Check for blank cells in these columns.
"Invalid email format"
Review email addresses for typos or missing @ symbols.
Import seems slow
Large imports (over 500 records) may take a few minutes. The progress bar shows current status.
Importing your existing client data is a great first step. Your relationships and their history are now safely stored in Launchpad.