If you have existing data in spreadsheets or another CRM, you can import it into Alva using the CSV import wizard.
Starting an import
Go to Companies and click the Import button in the top-right corner. This opens the import wizard.
The import wizard
Step 1: Upload your file
Drag and drop a CSV file or click to browse. The wizard reads your file and shows a preview of the data.
Step 2: Choose record type
Select what you’re importing:
- Companies — business records with name, domain, industry, etc.
- Contacts — people records with name, email, job title, etc.
Step 3: Map your fields
The wizard shows your CSV column headers and lets you map them to Alva fields. For example:
| Your CSV column | Maps to |
|---|
| ”Company Name” | Name |
| ”Website” | Domain |
| ”Sector” | Industry |
| ”City” | Location |
Step 4: Handle duplicates
Choose what happens when an imported record matches an existing one (based on domain for companies, email for contacts):
| Option | What it does |
|---|
| Skip | Don’t import the duplicate — keep the existing record |
| Update | Merge new data into the existing record |
| Create new | Import it as a separate record regardless |
Step 6: Review and import
Review your settings and click Import. The wizard processes your file and shows results:
- Imported — how many records were created
- Updated — how many existing records were updated
- Skipped — how many duplicates were skipped
- Failed — any rows that couldn’t be processed (with reasons)
Import templates
If you import regularly (e.g. weekly list uploads), you can save your field mappings as a template. Next time, select the template and the mapping is applied automatically.
Templates are managed from the import page — you can save, load, and delete them.
Import history
Every import is logged. You can view your import history from the import page, showing the filename, record counts, and when it was run.
Importing via Alva
You can also import by pasting CSV data directly into the Alva chat:
“Import these companies: [paste CSV data]”
Alva will suggest field mappings and handle the import conversationally.
Clean your CSV before importing — remove blank rows, ensure consistent formatting, and check that email addresses and domains are valid. This reduces failed rows and duplicate issues.
