So you want to get your customer data into Badgermaps and actually use it—without losing hours in spreadsheet hell or ending up with a map full of duplicates and garbage data. This guide is for sales reps, managers, and anyone who actually has to wrangle customer info, not just talk about it in meetings.
Here’s how to import, clean up, and manage your customer data in Badgermaps so you can spend less time fiddling and more time selling.
1. Know What You’re Importing (And Why It Matters)
Before you touch a CSV or start mapping, get clear on what you’re working with:
- Where’s your data coming from? (CRM export, spreadsheets, email lists, Post-it notes…)
- How clean is it? (Be honest—if you have multiple entries for “Acme Inc.”, you’ll want to fix that now.)
- What do you actually need? (Not every column in your CRM is useful.)
Pro Tip: More data isn’t always better. Import what you’ll use—address, contact name, phone, notes, whatever helps you plan and visit customers. Skip the fluff.
2. Clean Up Your Data Before Importing
Nothing ruins a mapping tool faster than messy data. Take 10 minutes now to save hours later.
Here’s What to Look For:
- Duplicate rows: Merge or delete them.
- Inconsistent names: “Walmart” vs. “Wal-Mart”—pick one.
- Addresses: Make sure they’re complete (street, city, state, ZIP). Missing ZIP codes = pins in the wrong state.
- Column names: Badgermaps will try to auto-detect, but clear headers like “Address,” “Phone,” and “Notes” are your friend.
What to ignore: Don’t worry about fancy formatting or hidden columns—Badgermaps only cares about what you give it in the spreadsheet.
3. Format Your Spreadsheet for Badgermaps
You’ll import using a CSV (comma-separated values) file. Excel, Google Sheets, Numbers—they can all save to CSV. Here’s a dead-simple template:
| Name | Address | City | State | ZIP | Phone | Notes | |-------------|---------------------|----------|-------|-------|--------------|---------------| | Acme Inc. | 123 Main St | Dallas | TX | 75201 | 555-123-4567 | Top customer | | Beta Corp | 500 Elm Ave, Ste 2 | Austin | TX | 78701 | 555-987-6543 | Needs follow-up |
Tips: - Combine address info into a single “Address” column if you’re not splitting out city/state/ZIP. - Remove any formulas or drop-downs—just plain text. - Don’t use weird characters or emojis in your data. Badgermaps isn’t a fan.
4. Importing Into Badgermaps (Step by Step)
Ready? Here’s how to actually get the data in.
Step 1: Log In
Open Badgermaps and sign in. Use Chrome or Safari for fewer headaches.
Step 2: Find the “Import” Button
- Go to the “Accounts” or “Customers” tab (depends on your account setup).
- Look for “Import” or “Add Multiple Accounts.”
Step 3: Upload Your CSV
- Click the button, find your file, and upload.
- Badgermaps will show you a preview. This is your last chance to spot weirdness (like a column of blank addresses).
Step 4: Map Your Columns
- Badgermaps will try to match your spreadsheet columns to its fields.
- Double-check these—sometimes “ZIP” gets mapped as “Notes” or something dumb.
- Fix any mismatches.
Step 5: Finish Import
- Click “Import” or “Upload.”
- Wait a minute—especially if you’ve got hundreds or thousands of rows.
- If you get errors, read them. Nine times out of ten, it’s a missing address or a weird character.
What works: Imports are usually straightforward if your data is clean.
What doesn’t: If you try to import with missing addresses, Badgermaps can’t map these. They’ll error out or show up in the wrong place.
5. Spot-Check Your Map
Don’t trust the import blindly. Look for:
- Pins in the wrong state or country.
- Obvious duplicates.
- Names or notes that look off.
Click around and spot-check a few records. Fixing now is easier than after you’ve built out routes.
6. Managing Data After Import
Your work isn’t done after hitting “import.” Here’s how to keep things tidy:
Edit or Update Customer Info
- You can edit customer details one by one in Badgermaps.
- For mass updates: Export your data, edit in your spreadsheet, and re-import (choose to overwrite existing records).
Dealing with Duplicates
- Badgermaps isn’t magic—if you import the same customer twice, you’ll get two pins.
- Regularly export and check for duplicates. If you’re serious about this, use Excel’s “Remove Duplicates” feature before importing.
Assigning Categories or Tags
- Use Badgermaps’ custom fields or color-coding to group customers (e.g., by priority or account type).
- Don’t overthink it. Start with a couple of useful categories. You can always add more later.
7. Tips for Ongoing Data Hygiene
- Set a schedule: Clean up your data every month or quarter. Old info = wasted trips.
- Keep addresses updated: If you get returned mail or bounced visits, fix those addresses right away.
- Get the team on board: If others are importing, make sure they know the “rules”—consistent names, no junk data, etc.
8. Common Pitfalls (And How to Avoid Them)
- Importing partial addresses: These end up in the wrong city or not mapped at all.
- Too many custom fields: Keep it simple. More columns mean more chances for errors.
- Importing from multiple sources without cleaning: Merge and clean your data first—otherwise, you’ll spend all day fixing duplicates.
- Forgetting to back up: Always keep a copy of your original spreadsheet somewhere safe.
9. What You Can Ignore (For Now)
- API integrations: Unless you’ve got a huge team and dedicated IT, skip the API. The CSV import works just fine for most folks.
- Hyper-detailed data: You don’t need every possible field. Focus on what helps you route and manage customers.
- Fancy formatting: Badgermaps just wants the basics—no need for pretty fonts or colors.
Keep It Simple and Iterate
Getting your customer data into Badgermaps isn’t rocket science, but it pays to slow down up front so you don’t end up cleaning up a mess later. Start with what you have, keep it tidy, and don’t stress about having the “perfect” dataset. The best systems are the ones you actually use.
Ready to get started? Import a small batch, see how it looks, and adjust as you go. The simpler you keep your process, the less likely you’ll want to throw your laptop out the window.