Importing opening inventory by CSV

Applies to: All tiers. Last reviewed: 2026-10-06

What this is

When you onboard a client who already has stock in your building, you can load their counts in bulk instead of receiving each SKU. This is the Import Opening Inventory flow at Inventory, Import CSV.

Important: it adds, it does not set

The import adds to the quantities already on hand. Uploading the same file twice counts it twice. To correct a number, use Adjust Inventory.

Import the file

1. Go to Inventory and click Import CSV.
2. Pick the destination: choose the Client and the Warehouse. The whole file lands under that one client and warehouse, so run one import per client per warehouse. If a client is chosen in the top bar, the Client is already set. An external (3PL) warehouse is not offered.
3. Get the CSV: the columns are sku, location_name and quantity. Click Download Template for an example.
4. Upload your file: Choose File becomes available once a destination is set.
5. Check the preview. Each row reads Ready or Error, with the reason.
6. Click Import. Only the Ready rows are imported. The result says how many were imported and how many failed.

Why a row reads Error

• Unknown SKU for the selected client: the product does not exist for that client yet. Create it first. Capitals in a SKU do not matter.
• Unknown location for the selected warehouse: the bin does not exist in that warehouse. Set up your locations first. Capitals in a location name do not matter.
• Quantity must be a positive integer: the quantity has to be a whole number above zero.

If you import while some rows read Error, the Ready rows go in and the rest are skipped. Fix the skipped rows and upload a file with only those rows. Uploading the Ready rows again would count them twice.

Afterwards

Each imported row adds to on hand at its location and appears in the Audit Trail as a CSV import, with the file's name, under your name.

When to use which tool

• Import Opening Inventory: first-time bulk load of a client's existing stock across many bins.
• Receipt: an inbound shipment you want tracked as a document (truck number, PO).
• Adjust Inventory: add to or remove from one SKU's count at one location.