Import your whole product list from a spreadsheet
Load your whole product list into SeroPOS from a spreadsheet instead of typing items one by one. Download the template, fill it in, and upload it from the back office or from the app.
Bulk product import in SeroPOS
Ready-made template
Download the product template so your columns match what SeroPOS expects.
Hundreds at once
Upload one file to create a full menu or shop catalogue in a single step.
From the web
Products › Import Products in the back office handles the upload.
From the app
Admin › Tools on the till has Download Excel and Import Products.
Opening stock too
A separate import loads opening stock quantities for your products.
Copy from an old system
Export from your previous POS, paste into the template and upload.
Skip the typing
Setting up a new POS often stalls on data entry. A cafe has fifty items, a convenience store has thousands. Bulk import loads them from a spreadsheet. Download the template, put one product per row with its name, SKU, category, unit, tax, cost and price, and upload it. SeroPOS creates the products and they sync to your tills.
Most businesses already have their list somewhere, whether in an old POS export, a supplier price list or an accounting system, so the job becomes copy and paste. A few hours tidying a spreadsheet saves days of tapping product names into a form, and the result is easier to check before anything goes live on the till.
Import in the back office
In the web back office, open Products › Import Products. Download the template file, fill it in using the column notes, and upload it. Categories, brands, units and taxes named in the file should match the ones you have already set up, so create those first. Then upload the file.
If you are moving stock across too, Products › Import Opening Stock loads quantities per location from a second spreadsheet once the products exist. Check a few products after each import before loading the next file, so any column mistakes are caught early and only affect a small batch rather than the whole catalogue.
- Set up categories, units and taxes
- Products › Import Products › download the template
- Fill in one product per row
- Upload the file
- Optional: Import Opening Stock
Import from the till
Owners setting up on a tablet can do the same in the SeroPOS app. Open Admin, go to Tools and choose Download Excel to get the product template as an .xls file. Fill it in on a computer, then use Import Products on the same screen to upload it. It is handy on day one.
The Getting Started guide that opens on the owner's first login points to bulk import in its staff and demo data step, alongside Add Demo Data for anyone who wants to try the system with a sample menu first. Demo data can be removed later with Remove Demo Data. It is a safe sandbox.
Tips for a clean import
Start with a small file of ten products to check that your columns line up, then import the rest. Keep SKUs unique, and use the barcode on the packaging as the SKU for retail items so they scan straight away. Leave the SKU blank if you want SeroPOS to create one.
After importing, use bulk edit in the back office to fix anything in batches, such as moving a group of products into a new category or adjusting prices. A quick check of prices and taxes on the till before you open catches the most common import mistakes. Then you are ready.
Frequently asked questions
What file format does the product import use?
Download the template from Products › Import Products in the back office, or Download Excel in the app's Admin › Tools. The app's template is an .xls spreadsheet. Fill it in and upload the same file. Keep the column headings as they are.
Can I import products from my old POS?
Yes. Export your product list from the old system, copy the columns into the SeroPOS template, and upload it. Check that category, unit and tax names match the ones you have set up in SeroPOS. Test with a small file first.
Can I import stock levels as well?
Yes. Once your products exist, Products › Import Opening Stock in the back office loads opening quantities per location from a spreadsheet, so you start with accurate counts. Import products first, then stock. That order avoids errors on the import.
Do I need to create categories before importing?
It is best to. Set up your categories, units and tax rates first, then use the same names in the spreadsheet so each product lands in the right place. Matching names avoids missing links. Then upload the file with confidence.
Can I import products on a tablet?
Yes. In the SeroPOS app, Admin › Tools has Download Excel for the template and Import Products to upload the filled-in file. Fill in the file on a computer, then upload it from the tablet. Products sync to the till once the import finishes.