Bulk Data Import Guide
Import large volumes of historical or external data into AskBiz using CSV uploads, scheduled imports, or the API — and understand how each method handles data validation.
Three ways to import data#
1. CSV upload — the simplest method. Upload one or more CSV files through the UI (Settings → Data Sources → Upload CSV). Best for: one-off historical data imports, data from sources without a native AskBiz integration, and manual data sets (e.g. offline sales, trade show leads). 2. Scheduled CSV import — upload a CSV to a designated cloud storage location (S3, Google Cloud Storage, or Dropbox) and AskBiz imports it automatically on a schedule you define. Best for: regularly updated external data from systems that export CSV. 3. API import — use the AskBiz REST API to push data programmatically. Best for: real-time data from proprietary systems, automated pipelines, and developers who need precise control over data structure and timing.
CSV format requirements#
AskBiz accepts CSV files up to 500MB per upload. Required columns vary by data type — download the appropriate template from Settings → Data Sources → Upload CSV → Download Template. Common requirements across all templates: dates must be in ISO 8601 format (YYYY-MM-DD or YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS), currency values must be numeric without symbols (use 125.50, not £125.50), and the first row must be a header row matching the template column names exactly. UTF-8 encoding is required — files saved from Excel in Windows may need to be re-saved as UTF-8 CSV.
Validating your import before it processes#
All uploads go through a validation step before data is committed to your account. AskBiz will show you: the number of rows detected, any rows with validation errors (missing required fields, invalid date formats, values outside expected ranges), and a preview of the first 10 rows. You can choose to import only the valid rows (skipping errors) or fix the errors and re-upload. Validation errors are downloadable as a report — for large files, this report shows you exactly which rows need fixing.
Backfilling historical data#
When you connect a new data source, AskBiz pulls historical data up to the limits of the source API (typically 12–24 months for most platforms). To import data older than this: export it from your source platform as a CSV, format it using the appropriate AskBiz template, and upload it via Settings → Data Sources → Upload Historical Data. Historical data is processed separately from live sync data and is labelled with its source in the dashboard so you can distinguish historical imports from real-time data.
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