Hello everyone!

We are excited to launch the 'Spotlight on CRM' series, yet another in the Community Learning Series, aimed at helping you master Zoho CRM. In this series, we'll showcase a feature that just released or one where we have more of you sending us your queries. Join the Spotlight and share your queries on the feature in focus. A team of product specialists will answer your queries. We'll feature posts in this series on-demand or on the heels of a recent release.

 
The feature in focus today is the new version of the Import and Migrate functionality in Zoho CRM.

Importing data to your CRM account, be it the first time or every time you get new leads, contacts, etc., should not be a complicated process. It should be a smooth process where the CRM system helps you finish the work efficiently and accurately.

To help you achieve that, we have improved our Import and Migrate functionality. Both these features get a refreshingly new UI with focus on making things easier for you. Here are some of the new options:

Auto-detection of character encoding - Zoho CRM automatically detects the correct character encoding while importing your data file and ensures that proper data is pushed inside Zoho CRM.

Auto-detection of Field format - If your import file has different formats for a field, Zoho CRM auto-suggests a format based on the first 10 rows in the file. If the values are not available in the first 10 rows, then Zoho CRM checks for the subsequent rows.

Create new fields - You need not abandon the import activity that you started. Using the option to create fields during the import action, you add the new field in CRM, map it and continue with your import.

Update only the existing records - With this option only the existing records in your account will be updated with the values from the import file. Duplicates can be identified and skipped based on two elements Record ID, Email Address or any other unique field.

These are some of the changes in the Import feature. Please refer to the full list in the Import Transition Guide.

In addition to this the Migrate functionality has some other new options:

Automatic file mapping and creating custom modules  - When files are uploaded for migration, Zoho CRM automatically maps the files with the matching modules. In case there are files that do not match any module, CRM creates custom modules and maps the files to them.

Inventory modules supported - Earlier inventory modules were not supported but with the new data migration wizard, inventory modules such as Quotes, Products, Sales Orders, etc. can also be migrated.

Mapped, Unmapped, and Unsupported - A complete list of fields that are mapped and the ones that are unmapped will be available during the import. You need not wait to find out the list of columns from the import file that are not mapped with the CRM fields.

These are some of the changes in the Import feature. Please refer to the full list in the Migrate Transition Guide.