Here is the structured and polished article for Supplier Imports (Create & Update).
I kept the clear distinction between creating and updating, just like we did for the Supplier Products article. I also added a helpful FAQ explaining the difference between this import and the Supplier Products import we just finished, as that is a very common point of confusion for users!
📥 Import: Suppliers (Create & Update)
In Optiply, "Suppliers" represent the actual vendors or manufacturers you purchase your stock from. This profile holds their overarching contact details and default settings.
While you can add suppliers manually one by one or sync them via our API, you can also manage your vendor list in bulk using a .csv file. This guide covers how to create brand new suppliers and how to update the details of your existing ones.
➕ 1. Creating New Suppliers
Use this option when you need to upload a list of brand-new vendors into your Optiply environment.
Step 1: Navigate to Imports. Go to the Supplier Page and click on the Imports button.
Step 2: Choose Your Action. Select the Add new suppliers option and click Next.
Step 3: Review Attributes & Download Template. Here, you can download a CSV template and view a list of all the attributes (like name, email, default lead time, etc.) that you can import for a new supplier. Once your file is populated, click Next.
Step 4: Upload Your File. Drag and drop your ready .csv file into the designated area and click Next.
Step 5: Match Your Columns. Match the column headers from your file to the correct attributes used by Optiply. Take your time to ensure the data aligns correctly, then click Next.
Step 6: Final Check & Import Optiply will run a final check on your mapping.
If any columns are incorrectly mapped, the system will flag them, and you can click Back to correct them.
Once the columns are correctly matched and no errors are found, click Import to start the process!
🔄 2. Updating Existing Suppliers
If your suppliers already exist in Optiply, you can use the update tool to modify their overarching details (like a new contact email or a change in their standard delivery days) in bulk.
⚠️ Note on Updating: This option will only allow you to update existing suppliers. It will not create new ones if a vendor is missing from the system.
Step 1: Navigate to Imports. Go to the Supplier Page and click on Imports.
Step 2: Choose Your Action Select the Update existing supplier option and click Next.
Step 3: Choose Your Identifier You must tell the system how to match your CSV file to the correct vendor. Select your preferred identifier: either the Supplier ID or the Supplier name. Then click Next.
Step 4: Upload & Map. The rest of the process is exactly the same as creating a supplier! Download the template if needed, upload your file, map your columns carefully to your chosen identifier, review the final check, and click Import.
📊 3. Tracking Your Import & Viewing Reports
Once either of these imports starts, you can track the progress by navigating to Settings > Data Management > Imports/Exports.
When the file is finished processing, you will be able to view a detailed report. The report splits your data into clear columns:
Succeeded: All the lines in the file that were successfully created or updated.
Skipped: All the lines in the file that were skipped—rows that were intentionally not processed.
Common reasons: The data already matches what's currently in the system, a required reference wasn't found, the row was a duplicate, or a field value was outside the accepted format.
Failed: All the lines that encountered an error and were not processed.
❓ 4. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the difference between a "Supplier" import and a "Supplier Product" import?
Supplier Import (This article): Creates or updates the vendor profile itself (e.g., "Acme Corp", their contact email, and their default supplier settings).
Supplier Product Import: Creates the link between your specific webshop item and the vendor, holding item-specific purchasing data (e.g., linking your "Red T-Shirt" to "Acme Corp" with a specific cost of €5.00).
What happens if I upload an incorrectly matched column?
Don't worry! Optiply will not process a broken file. The "Final Check" screen will catch formatting or mapping errors before the import runs, allowing you to go back and fix the column matching before any data is altered.