Importing Item Data to Lightspeed Retail is a fairly simple process with DataTools.
IMPORTANT!
You will be importing to your active Lightspeed Retail database.
Imports are permanent.
Exports are fully featured but do not include all possible fields.
Be sure to run an export before importing/updating.
Check your data multiple times before importing!
Item Templates
First, you will need the DataTools Item Import Template. This template is your guide for properly laying out your data for import. You can open this template in a spreadsheet program like Microsoft Excel or Apple Numbers. You will need to cut and paste your data into the correct columns and setup item matrices for those items that require them.
Best Practices
We recommend the following best practices when working with Item Data for Import:
Be Consistent! Especially with Tags, Descriptions, Color, and Size.
True/False fields must include either 1/TRUE or 0/FALSE/blank.
Many special characters will produce inconsistent results or Lightspeed errors when processed by Lightspeed's API, these include characters like accents, # ^ & *, and leading or trailing commas.
Lightspeed has specifically confirmed that these special characters are not supported via the API and will have inconsistent results when used: ' " & < > \
Minimum Product Data
We recommend populating data for the following fields. We consider this to be the minimum item data required to successfully run Lightspeed Retail.
Column | Use | |
1. | UPC (if available) | Scanning and Matching |
2. | CustomSKU | Matching, Scanning, and Labeling |
3. | Description | Information and Search |
4. | Default Cost | Purchasing and Accounting |
5. | Price | Selling |
6. | Category (and sub-category, if available) | Reporting |
7. | Manufacturer | Search and Sorting |
8. | Vendor | Purchasing |
9. | Vendor Part Number | Purchasing |
10. | Matrix Group Name (if part of a matrix) | Item Management |
11. | Matrix Group Attribute (if part of a matrix) | Item Management |
12. | Size (if part of a matrix) | Item Management |
13. | Color (if part of a matrix) | Item Management |
14. | Tags | webstore for Ecommerce *Required |
CustomSKU
If no SKU is available for the CustomSKU, we suggest making one up. This can be a valuable reference when performing item updates or labeling items. Even something simple like "CustomerSKU1" will give you a matching reference that you can match on later.
Item Matrices
Item Matrices can be created through Item Import or through Matrix Import. To create Matrices through an Item Import, add Matrix Group Name, Matrix Group Attribute, Size, and Color for any items that are available with options. Please see the instructions for how to Create an Item Matrix from an Item Import.
Optional Item Data
Options include adding Photos and Ecommerce info, as well as reorder points, etc.
Column | Use | |
1. | MSRP | Price Comparison |
2. | Tags | Information and Search |
3. | Reorder Point | Purchasing |
4. | Reorder Level | Purchasing |
5. | Photo URLs 1-5 | Ecommerce and Mobile |
6. | Web Short Description | Ecommerce (500 character max) |
7. | Web Long Description | Ecommerce (1000 character max) |
8. | Weight | Ecommerce and Shipping |
9. | Length | Ecommerce and Shipping |
10. | Width | Ecommerce and Shipping |
11. | Height | Ecommerce and Shipping |