CRM Pro users can import contacts in bulk directly from the People page using a CSV or Excel file. The import wizard walks through file upload, column mapping, duplicate matching rules, and update settings. The import runs in the background — you can close the wizard at any time and return to check progress.
Supported formats: CSV, XLSX
Maximum file size: 50,000 rows per import
Getting Started
Navigate to People > Contacts and click the Import button. A wizard opens and guides you through the following steps.
Step 1 — Upload your file
Drop or select your CSV or XLSX file. The file should follow this format:
- One row per contact
- Include company-related columns alongside contact fields (e.g., Company Name, Company Email) to avoid orphan contacts and ensure contacts are linked to the correct organizations
Tip: Download the import template from the wizard if you need a pre-formatted starting point.
File validation errors:
- Unsupported file format — only CSV and XLSX are accepted.
- File size exceeded — the file contains more than 50,000 rows.
- Multiple files — only one file can be imported at a time.
Once the file is dropped, the wizard displays a progress bar while the file is processed. The popup can be closed without stopping the import. If you reopen the Import wizard, it will show the current or completed import state.
Step 2 — Map columns
The system reads the column headers from your file and suggests how each maps to a Dealius contact field. Each mapping has a confidence level:
| Confidence | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Mapped | The system is confident the column matches the Dealius field. |
| Review | The system made a best guess — review and adjust if needed. |
| No Match Found | The system could not map this column. Assign it manually or leave it unmapped. |
You can change any mapping manually. Each Dealius field can be mapped to only one column, with one exception: the Notes field can be mapped multiple times (each mapped column creates a separate note).
Step 3 — Configure import settings
How should Dealius match existing contacts?
The system checks for existing contacts in the following order:
| Priority | Rule | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Exact email match | High |
| 2 | Exact mobile phone match | High |
| 3 | First name + last name + linked company | Medium / High |
Matching uses normalized values — emails are lowercased and trimmed, phone numbers have spaces, dashes, brackets, and country codes removed before comparison.
For company matching, the system matches by linked company ID when available, otherwise by normalized company name (e.g., "CBRE", "CBRE Inc.", and "CBRE, Inc." are treated as the same company).
What should Dealius do with matched contacts?
| Option | Behavior |
|---|---|
| Update and override matching records | Overwrites all existing field values with values from the file. |
| Fill only blank fields | Updates only fields that are currently empty on the existing contact. |
| Do not update | Leaves existing contacts unchanged; only creates new ones. |
Upload all contacts on behalf of
This field sets the Originated By value for all imported contacts. Useful when an admin is importing contacts on behalf of a specific broker.
Step 4 — Review results
Before the import is finalized, a summary shows:
- Number of contacts to be created
- Number of existing contacts to be updated
- Errors found in the file
A Download Import Report option is available to review all rows and their import status. Click Confirm to complete the import.
Handling errors
The following issues are handled automatically during import:
| Issue | How it's handled |
|---|---|
| Contact has no company linked | Contact is imported without a company link. |
| Contact has no first or last name | Row is flagged as an error. |
| Contact has no phone number or email | Row is flagged as an error. |
| Required fields missing (per Admin > System Settings) | Row is flagged as an error. |
| Duplicate found in the system | Handled per your selected update setting. |
| Company not found in Dealius by name | A new company is created. |
| Contact has no type specified | Defaults to Client type. |