Uploading a hundred products by hand takes days. A file import finishes it in an hour — provided the file is correct.
Start from an export, not from scratch
Create one product manually with every field filled, then export the catalogue. The resulting file gives you the exact column names. Building on the platform's own template avoids most import errors.
Mistakes that corrupt the file
- Renaming or reordering the columns.
- Saving in an encoding that does not support Arabic, turning text into symbols.
- Mixing up the decimal separator in prices.
- Image URLs that are not public, or images not yet uploaded.
- Reusing the same SKU for two different products.
Test with ten before doing a hundred
Import ten rows first and inspect: is the Arabic intact? are prices right? did images appear? Then import the rest.
Export a backup before any bulk edit
Before any import that modifies existing products, export the catalogue and keep the file. Undoing a bad import without a prior copy means redoing the work.
Descriptions still matter
Importing makes upload fast, but it tempts you to paste supplier descriptions verbatim. Set aside time afterwards to rewrite at least your top twenty.