Import data into AntsRoute

Would you like to add multiple customers or jobs at once in AntsRoute?
You can import a file in .csv, .xls, or .xlsx format.

This feature helps you save time and avoid manual data entry.
 

Before you start

Before importing your file, please check the following:

• ✅ Your file contains only one sheet
• ✅ All formulas have been removed
• ✅ The file contains a maximum of 500 rows
• ✅ The format is .csv, .xls, or .xlsx
• ✅ All required fields are included

💡 If you have more than 500 rows, split your data into multiple files.
 

What types of data can you import?

You can import:

• Customers. Download our template file here.
• Fixed-date jobs. Download our template file here.
• Jobs with a due date (in the basket). Download our template file here.

1️⃣ Importing customers

This option allows you to add only your customers’ contact details.
Jobs will need to be scheduled separately afterward.

Required fields

• Last name (customer or company name)
• Address (example: 71 Tooting High St, London SW17 0RN)

Without these fields, the import cannot be validated.

Optional fields

You can also add:

• Customer External Id (your ERP customer code, e.g., C01001001)
• First name (contact person)
• Phone / Mobile (international format: +44…)
• E-mail
• Customer comments
• Forced agents (AntsRoute agent emails separated by commas)
• Parking time (in minutes)

💡 Parking time refers to the extra time needed to park at the customer’s location.

2️⃣ Importing fixed-date jobs

Use this option if you already know the visit date.

Required fields

• Last name (customer or company name)
• Address (example: 71 Tooting High St, London SW17 0RN)
• Planned duration (in minutes)
• Visit-date (format YYYY-MM-DD or DD/MM/YYYY)

⚠️ The date must not be in the past.

Special case: Pickup & Delivery

If you use pickup and delivery, you must also add:

• Type (Pickup / Delivery / Load / Unload)

The rows must follow this order:

• Load → Delivery (one Load row, then one Delivery row)
  or
• Pickup → Unload (one Pickup row, then one Unload row)

☝️ Important:

The Pickup & Delivery file must follow a specific logic:
It must contain consecutive rows in the order Pickup → Unload or Load → Delivery.

If the loading (or unloading) location is always the same, you can configure it directly in Settings > Default values.
In this case, you will no longer need to add a loading (or unloading) row in your import file.

Main optional fields

• Id: unique external identifier of the imported delivery (e.g., delivery number, batch number, or purchase order number, example: 20180101-1)
• Customer External Id (your ERP customer code, e.g., C01001001)
• First name (contact person)
• Phone / Mobile (international format: +44…)
• E-mail
• Postal code
• City
• Customer comments
• Time slot: corresponds to a time window defined in your site settings, format HH:MM-HH:MM (e.g., 08:00-10:00)
• Comments
• Order type (service types defined in your account settings)
• Comp_XXX: indicates whether a predefined skill is required (enter YES or NO)
• Cap_XXX: quantity to transport (whole number, e.g., 18) corresponding to a predefined capacity. This field is required if mandatory validation was enabled when creating the capacity.

☝️ Skills and capacities must be created beforehand in the settings.

3️⃣ Importing jobs with a due date (in the basket)

Use this option if:

• You do not yet know the visit date
• But you have a deadline to meet

Required fields

• Last name (customer or company name)
• Address (example: 71 Tooting High St, London SW17 0RN)
• Planned duration (in minutes)
• Due-date (format YYYY-MM-DD or DD/MM/YYYY)

The date must not be in the past.

You can also add a Open-date (format YYYY-MM-DD or DD/MM/YYYY – optional).

Other optional fields are identical to those for fixed-date jobs.

Adding custom fields

Are you using custom fields in AntsRoute?

1. First create the field in:
   Settings > Custom fields
2. Then add a column with the exact same name in your file.

For a multiple-choice list field, use the format:

['option 1','option 2']

If an option contains an apostrophe, add a \ before it.
 

How to import your file

Step 1: Upload your file

1️⃣ To import customers

1. Open the Customers module
2. Click Import (in the top-right)
3. Click Upload a file
4. Select your file

2️⃣ To import fixed-date jobs

1. Open the Plan module
2. Click Import deliveries
3. Click Upload a file

3️⃣ To import jobs into the basket

1. Open Plan
2. Click Deliveries' basket
3. Click Import (in the top-right)
4. Click Upload a file

Step 2: Match the columns

AntsRoute automatically matches recognized columns.

If some fields are not matched:

• Drag the column from the right to the corresponding field on the left
• Click Validate

💡 You can define a date and duration for all jobs by clicking the ✏️ icon.

Step 3: Review the data

Before final validation:

• A summary table is displayed
• Errors appear in red
• You can edit fields directly
• Then click Reimport.

Bulk update customers (or jobs)

To modify several customers (or jobs) at once:

• Import a new file
• Make sure to keep the original customer external id
• The data will be updated automatically

Conclusion

Importing data into AntsRoute allows you to save time and streamline your operations.

To avoid errors:

• Check required fields
• Follow the requested formats
• Review your data before final validation

If you encounter any difficulties, feel free to contact our support team via the chat available in AntsRoute or by email. 😊