Bulk imports happen at Data > Import Data. CSV is the universal format; Tormano also accepts XLSX.
Step 1: Upload
Drop or pick a file. Tormano detects the file type and reads the header row.
Step 2: Map columns
Each column in your file gets matched to a Tormano field. Tormano's smart-mapper recognizes the most common header names (First Name, Email, Phone, etc.) and auto-maps them. You can override any mapping or skip columns you don't want.
If your file came from another CRM, pick a mapping template at the top. Tormano ships 34 templates for 21 competitor platforms including HubSpot, Salesforce, Pipedrive, Mailchimp, Bloomerang, Virtuous, DonorPerfect, Salsa, and more.
Step 3: Preview and validate
Tormano shows the first 5 rows mapped to their target fields. Errors (invalid email format, missing required fields) are flagged before you commit. Required fields you didn't map raise a blocking error.
Step 4: Choose dedup behavior
- Skip duplicates — match by email and ignore rows that already exist.
- Update duplicates — match by email and overwrite fields with new values.
- Create everything — no dedup; useful for blank organizations.
Step 5: Run
The import runs in batches. You'll see a progress bar and final count of created / updated / skipped / errored rows. The full Import Log is in Data > Import History with downloadable error reports for any failed rows.
Common pitfalls
- Date columns must be ISO format (
2026-05-07) or US (05/07/2026). - Tag columns support multiple tags separated by semicolons (
vip;board-member;lapsed). - Custom fields must already exist in Settings > Custom Fields before you map to them.