Importing Customers

Customer files can be imported through one of the following options:

• Import Customers Using Address Information
• Import Customers Using Coordinates
• Import Customers Using Geographic Codes

Before importing, read our FAQ on preparing your data for import.opens in new window

Import Customers Using Address Information

The following sections will outline the process of importing a customer file using address information:

• To import a Canadian customer file with address information into ENVISION, the file needs at minimum, a six-digit postal code for each customer record
• To import a US customer file with address information into ENVISION, the file needs at minimum, either the street address, plus city/town, plus state, or a ZIP+4 for each customer record

Upload a File

1. In the side panel, click Import Data > Customers > Geocode.

   

2. Drag and drop your customer file into the upload box, or click the Add button to browse for your file.

   

   Once a file has been placed in the box, the Add button will change to the Upload   button.

3. Click the Upload  button.

   

   The File Preview window will display.

File Properties

1. Underneath the File Preview will be the File Properties section, where you can adjust your file properties as required. 

   Note: If your file has more than one worksheet, you can select the appropriate file to use in the Table Selection drop-down list. 

   

   1. In the Dataset Name field, adjust the name of your customer file.

   2. In the Dataset Description field, add any necessary information about your customer file.

   3. In the Tags field, add any tags to your customer file. 

   4. Turn the Available in All Workspaces switch on or off as required.

      ON means that this file is available in every workspace.
      OFF means that this file is only available in the current workspace.

   5. Set the Start Date and End Date as required. They act as tags referring to the vintage of your data. 

   Note: The Start/End Date fields are optional.

2. Click Next Step.

Specify the Geocode Settings

Here you will specify the fields to geocode your customer file. 

Note: The File Preview window minimizes, but you can expand it if needed.

Customer File with Address Information

ENVISION Canada Workspaces

ENVISION USA Workspaces

1. Adjust your Geocoding Fields and Record Definitions as required.

   1. In the Postal Code or ZIP+4 Field, select the field that contains the customer's code type from.

   2. In the Community Name Field, select the field that contains the customer's city or town.

   3. In the Location ID Field, select the field that you will use to link your customers to a Locations list. 

      Note: The Location ID field must be identical in both the customer file and the location file. 

   4. You can Choose a Base Variable to benchmark your customer file.

   5. Select whether you would like to Use Record Count or Weight.

      Record Count: In your customer file, each record represents a single customer.
      Record Weight: In your customer file, each record is a single postal code or ZIP+4 code with the aggregated number of customers associated with it.

      Note: If Record Weight is selected, you will also need to specify the number of customers at the Postal Code/ZIP+4 in the Record Weight Field.

2. Click Next Step.

Specify Additional Fields

You can choose to import any additional fields that you may wish to use later in your analysis. If your file includes fields like sales, frequency, store number, tenure, or type, you may wish to include them here.

Note: Selecting the data type for additional fields is important, as it helps to determine how you can filter reports.

1. Set any field(s) for import by turning the switch ON for that field.

2. In the drop-down list, select the appropriate data type for that field.

   

   Data Types

   • Text indicates that your field contains text data and allows for the following operations in a query: =, <>, In, Not In, Starts With, Contains and Ends With
   • Flag indicates that your field contains True/False data and allows the following operators in a query: = and <>
   • Categorical indicates that your field contains items that can be grouped together. When building a query, these categories will be pre-populated, allowing the following operators in a query: In and Not In
   • Consumption indicates that your field contains numeric data that can be measured (very often a dollar amount) and allows the following operators in a query: =, <>, >, <, >= or <=

3. Click Next Step.

   Tip: There is no need to select any of the address or geography fields that you selected in the previous step. These will be already included. 

   A message displays indicating that you are finished, you will also receive a notification when your file becomes available for use.

   

   Your imported customer file will be available on the Results page.

Import Customers Using Coordinates

The following sections will outline the process of importing a customer file using coordinates:

• To import a customer file with coordinate information into ENVISION, the file needs at minimum, both a longitude and latitude coordinate.

Upload a File

1. In the side panel, click Import Data > Customers > Coordinates.

   

2. Drag and drop your customer file into the upload box, or click the Add button to browse for your file.

   

   Once a file has been placed in the box, the Add button will change to the Upload  button.

3. Click the Upload  button.

   

   The File Preview window will display.

File Properties

1. Underneath the File Preview will be the File Properties section, where you can adjust your file properties as required. 

   Note: If your file has more than one worksheet, you can select the appropriate file to use in the Table Selection drop-down list. 

   

   1. In the Dataset Name field, adjust the name of your customer file.

   2. In the Dataset Description field, add any necessary information about your customer file.

   3. In the Tags field, add any tags to your customer file. 

   4. Turn the Available in All Workspaces switch on or off as required.

      ON means that this file is available in every workspace.
      OFF means that this file is only available in the current workspace.

   5. Set the Start Date and End Date as required. They act as tags referring to the vintage of your data. They can also be used to specify when customer records become active and inactive.

      Note: The Start/End Date fields are optional.

2. Click Next Step.

    

Specify the Geocode Settings

Here you will specify the fields to geocode your customer file. 

Note: The File Preview window minimizes, but you can expand it if needed.

Customer File with Coordinates

1. Adjust your Coordinates and Record Definitions as required.

   1. In the Latitude (Y) Field, select the field that contains the customers' latitude coordinate.

   2. In the Longitude (X) Field, select the field that contains the customers' longitude coordinate.

   3. You can Choose a Base Variable to benchmark your customer file.

   4. Select whether you would like to Use Record Count or Weight.

      Record Count: In your customer file, each record represents a single customer.

      Record Weight: In your customer file, each record is a single set of coordinates and the aggregated number of customers associated with it.

      Note: If Record Weight is selected, you will also need to specify the number of customers at the coordinates in the Record Weight Field.

2. Click Next Step.

Specify Additional Fields

You can choose to import any additional fields that you may wish to use later in your analysis. If your file includes fields like sales, frequency, store number, tenure, or type, you may wish to include them here.

Note: Selecting the data type for additional fields is important, as it helps to determine how you can filter reports.

1. Set any field(s) for import by turning the switch ON for that field.

2. In the drop-down list, select the appropriate data type for that field.

   

   Data Types

   • Text indicates that your field contains text data and allows for the following operations in a query: =, <>, In, Not In, Starts With, Contains and Ends With
   • Flag indicates that your field contains True/False data and allows the following operators in a query: = and <>
   • Categorical indicates that your field contains items that can be grouped together. When building a query, these categories will be pre-populated, allowing the following operators in a query: In and Not In
   • Consumption indicates that your field contains numeric data that can be measured (very often a dollar amount) and allows the following operators in a query: =, <>, >, <, >= or <=

3. Click Next Step.

   Tip: There is no need to select any of the geography fields that you selected in the previous step. These will be already included. 

   A message displays indicating that you are finished, you will also receive a notification when your file becomes available for use.

   

   Your imported customer file will be available on the Results page.

Import Customers Using Geographic Codes

The following sections will outline the process of importing a customer file using geographic codes.

Upload a File

1. In the side panel, click Import Data > Customers > Geographic Codes.

   

2. Drag and drop your customer file into the upload box, or click the Add  button to browse for your file.

   

   Once a file has been placed in the box, the Add  button will change to the Upload   button.

3. Click the Upload  button.

   

   The File Preview window will display.

File Properties

1. Underneath the File Preview will be the File Properties section, where you can adjust your file properties as required. 

   Note: If your file has more than one worksheet, you can select the appropriate file to use in the Table Selection drop-down list. 

   

   1. In the Dataset Name field, adjust the name of your customer file.

   2. In the Dataset Description field, add any necessary information about your customer file.

   3. In the Tags field, add any tags to your customer file. 

   4. Turn the Available in All Workspaces switch on or off as required.

      ON means that this file is available in every workspace.
      OFF means that this file is only available in the current workspace.

   5. Set the Start Date and End Date as required. They act as tags referring to the vintage of your data. They can also be used to specify when customer records become active and inactive.

      Note: The Start/End Date fields are optional.

2. Click Next Step.

Specify the Geocode Settings

Here you will specify the fields to geocode your customer file. 

Note: The File Preview window minimizes, but you can expand it if needed.

Customer File with Geographic Codes

1. Adjust your Import Settings and Record Definitions as required.

   1. In the Geographic Level list, select the level in which your customer file is coded.

   2. In the Geographic Code Field, select the field that correlates to your previously selected Geographic Level. For example:

      

   3. You can Choose a Base Variable to benchmark your customer file.

   4. Select whether you would like to Use Record Count or Weight.

      Record Count: In your customer file, each record represents a single customer
      Record Weight: In your customer file, each record is a geographic code and the aggregated number of customers associated with it

      Note: If Record Weight is selected, you will also need to specify the number of customers within the geographic code in the Record Weight Field. 

2. Click Next Step.

Specify Additional Fields

You can choose to import any additional fields that you may wish to use later in your analysis. If your file includes fields like sales, frequency, store number, tenure, or type, you may wish to include them here.

Note: Selecting the data type for additional fields is important, as it helps to determine how you can filter reports.

1. Set any field(s) for import by turning the switch ON for that field.

2. In the drop-down list, select the appropriate data type for that field.

   

   Data Types

   • Text indicates that your field contains text data and allows for the following operations in a query: =, <>, In, Not In, Starts With, Contains and Ends With
   • Flag indicates that your field contains True/False data and allows the following operators in a query: = and <>
   • Categorical indicates that your field contains items that can be grouped together. When building a query, these categories will be pre-populated, allowing the following operators in a query: In and Not In
   • Consumption indicates that your field contains numeric data that can be measured (very often a dollar amount) and allows the following operators in a query: =, <>, >, <, >= or <=

3. Click Next Step.

   Tip: There is no need to select any of the geography fields that you selected in the previous step. These will be already included. 

   A message displays indicating that you are finished, you will also receive a notification when your file becomes available for use.

   

   Your imported customer file will be available on the Results page.