# Importing contacts and opportunities via CSV > Learn how to bulk import contacts and opportunities into your Futuria CRM using a CSV file. Follow our step-by-step guide for a smooth impor... Author: Futuria Support Team · Published: March 5, 2026 · Reading time: 5 min read Source: https://futuriamarketing.com/en/supporto/importare-contatti-opportunita-csv/ --- ## Importing contacts and opportunities via CSV Bulk importing contacts and opportunities from a CSV file is an essential Futuria CRM feature that helps simplify data entry and organisation. You can map fields, create or update records and monitor the import process without interruption, ensuring accurate data entry and considerable time savings. This guide gives you a detailed procedure, from preparing the CSV file to monitoring the process and correcting any errors. ## Prerequisites for importing Before you start the import process, make sure you meet the following requirements: - **User permissions:** only users with **administrator** access can import contacts. - **File format:** the file must be in **CSV (.csv)** format. - **Size limit:** the CSV file must not exceed **30 MB**. If it is larger, split it into smaller files. - **Single sheet:** your CSV file must contain **only one sheet/tab**. - **CSV requirements:** the first row must **NOT** be empty. Include a header row in which at least one column header matches a field in the system. ## Common mistakes to avoid ❌ **Mismatched headers**: make sure the CSV headers match the fields in the system. ❌ **Empty mandatory fields**: every row must contain at least one mandatory field (name, email or phone). ❌ **Using special characters in phone numbers**: remove spaces, dashes or letters. ❌ **Duplicate records in the CSV**: clean the list before importing it. ## How to import contacts and opportunities There are two ways to reach the import feature in Futuria CRM. 1. From the **Contacts** section - Go to Contacts in the left-hand menu, click the Smart Lists tab and then the Import Contacts button. ![Button to import contacts in the Contacts section of Futuria CRM.](https://assets.cdn.filesafe.space/jOFcdS1QIxGsOiKRyQti/media/011f9b20-9e90-4d09-a88f-0080f529b512.jpg) 2. From the **Opportunities** section - Go to Opportunities in the left-hand menu, then click the Import button in the top right corner. ![Button to import opportunities in the Opportunities section of Futuria CRM.](https://assets.cdn.filesafe.space/jOFcdS1QIxGsOiKRyQti/media/45f079fc-7af7-4ae4-a047-69f4a2aa9fa8.jpg) Both methods lead to the same import process, where you can choose to import contacts, opportunities or both at the same time. ### Choose what to import ### Upload your CSV file **Step 1**: once you have chosen what to import, click Next, then Upload File and select the CSV file from your computer. **Step 2**: once the file has been uploaded, choose how to import the data by deciding whether you want to create new records, update existing ones or do both. > **Please note**: the search for existing contacts is based by default on the "email, then phone" filter. This means the system will first look for a match by email and, if it does not find one, by phone number. ### Mapping columns to fields Make sure every column in your file is mapped correctly to the matching field in the system. Here are a few points to keep in mind: 1. By ticking the "Do not update empty values" box, you will avoid overwriting an existing field with an empty value in the import file. 2. If you decide not to import a particular field, you can leave it unmapped and select the option at the bottom to proceed. 3. This feature also lets you create **contacts** with several email addresses and phone numbers, which will be added automatically during the import. 4. If contacts and opportunities are on the same row in the CSV file, they will be linked to each other automatically. ### Reviewing and completing the import Review the mappings, then confirm and go ahead with the import. At this stage you can also choose to **create a Smart List**, add the contacts to a **Workflow** or apply a new **Tag**. > You must tick the checkbox confirming that you are authorised to import the contacts/opportunities. ## Monitoring the import status - You can monitor the progress and status of the import from the **Bulk actions** page. - Both contact imports and opportunity imports appear in this section. - Click the "**Show statistics**" button to view the details. You can also download the error log and find more information on how to resolve errors in the "**Errors**" tab. > The phone field exported by some CRMs may not be compatible with Futuria CRM because of brackets and dashes. Make sure you format the phone number column in your CSV by removing any non-numeric characters to avoid errors. ## Frequently asked questions ##### Q. What happens if my CSV file is larger than 30 MB? Split the file into **smaller sections (under 30 MB)** and import them separately. ##### Q. Can I import contacts with several emails or phone numbers? Yes! Additional emails and phone numbers are stored **as secondary fields**, without replacing the primary data. ##### Q. How does Futuria CRM handle duplicate contacts? - **Futuria CRM automatically merges** contacts based on phone number or email. - If a match is found, the system **updates the existing records** instead of creating duplicates. ##### Q. Can I update existing contacts via a CSV import? Of course! Choose **Update only** or **Create and update** during the import process. ##### Q. What should I do if my import fails? - Check the **error messages** on the **Import status** page. - Download the **error log**, fix the problem and **import the corrected CSV again**. ##### Q. Why are all my imported contacts set to "Do not disturb" (DND) for ALL channels? When you import contacts with a **DND (Do Not Disturb)** column in your CSV, Futuria CRM **automatically applies DND to all communication channels** (SMS, email, calls and so on). If you want to set DND for specific channels only, you need to use a **workflow and tags**. ##### Q. I am trying to import a CSV with notes, but I cannot generate more than one note per contact. When importing contact notes, you can add only one note per record, with a limit of **5000 characters**.