In Assist you can import several customers at once using a CSV file, which is a quick and efficient way to get your customer list set up. Follow this guide for a trouble-free import.
How to go about it
Step 1: Prepare your file
You use a CSV file to upload customers to Assist. Export one from your accounting system, for example.
Download and use our template file to make sure the format is right. It is attached at the very bottom of this article. ⬇️
Step 2: Format the file correctly
Make sure the columns in the CSV file match the requirements. See the table below for details of each column:
Column name | Format | Example |
Navn | Text (company name/owner name) | Eventyrslottet AS |
Org.nr | Alphanumeric (XX XXXXXX XXX) | 123456789MVA |
Adresse 1 | Text (street address) | Slottsveien 1 |
Adresse 2 | Text (additional address line) | Tårn A |
Postnummer | Text | 1001 |
Poststed | Text (town/city) | Kongsberg |
Land | ISO 3166-1 A-2 (country code) | NO |
E-post | Text (valid email address) | |
Telefon | Numeric (8-12 digits) | 470000123 |
Notat | Text (optional comment) | Gull og grønne skoger |
Kundenummer | Text (unique ID) | 20001 |
Fakturaadresse 1 | Text (invoice street address) | Gullveien 10 |
Fakturaadresse 2 | Text (additional invoice address line) | Skattkammeret |
Fakturapoststed | Text (invoice town/city) | Kongsberg |
Fakturapostnummer | Text | 1001 |
Fakturaland | ISO 3166-1 A-2 (country code) | NO |
Faktura e-post | Text (valid email address) |
Checklist before you continue:
Are your country codes in ISO 3166-1 A-2 format? That means codes like these: Norway = NO, Denmark = DK, Sweden = SE
Is Postnummer formatted as text? A common mistake is that Oslo postcodes starting with 0 lose the leading zero when the cell is formatted as General or as a number
The first row of the file is used to recognise the correct columns. The names must be exactly the same as in the template file.
Step 3: Save the file in the right format
Assist can read files saved as CSV with UTF-8 encoding.
In Excel, go to "Save As" and choose "CSV UTF-8 (Comma delimited)"
Step 4: Upload the file
Go to: Settings > Import > Customers.
Drag your CSV file into the field provided.
ℹ️ If you get an error message, it is most likely a problem with the column names. Double-check that you are using exactly the same names in the header row of your columns.
Step 5: Check the preview
We flag obvious errors in the file, but we cannot catch everything, so look through the preview carefully. Mistakes in an import can be time-consuming to put right, so make sure your customers look correct.
Please note: check Land and Postnummer for Oslo especially.
Step 6: Confirm the import
Click Confirm and add to Assist to complete the import.
FAQ: common questions about customer import in Assist
Here you will find answers to the most common questions and problems users run into during a customer import. If you still need help, get in touch with our support team.
Why have some of my customers not been imported?
Cause: There may be errors in the CSV file. Typical problems include:
Missing values in important columns such as Adresse 1 or Navn.
Formatting errors, such as using a full stop instead of a comma for decimals.
Solution: Read the error message for the specific details, correct the file and upload it again.
Can I use Excel files instead of CSV?
No, Assist only supports CSV files for import.
Solution: Export the file from Excel as CSV before uploading:
Go to File > Save As > CSV.
Check that the file uses the right format before you upload it.
How do I delete customers that were imported incorrectly?
Deleting is possible, but time-consuming if a lot of customers are wrong.
Solution: Go to Administration > Contacts, find the customer and choose Delete. To avoid this problem, always check the CSV file carefully before importing.
How can I check that my file is correct before importing?
Solution: Use the preview in the import tool. It shows you how the customers will be added. Make any adjustments needed in your CSV file and upload again until the preview looks right.