Overview
If you already keep your parts catalogue in a spreadsheet, you don't need to re-enter it by hand. Mobaro can import your Warehouses, categories, materials and opening stock from one Excel workbook. You fill in Mobaro's Inventory import template; Mobaro checks it and runs the import for your organization.
This article covers the template, how rows are matched, and the mistakes that stop an import.
At a glance |
|
Who can do this | You prepare the workbook. Mobaro runs the import; there's no import button for customers. |
Where | Template from your CSM; imported data appears on the Inventory page |
Works on | Backend (web) |
Availability | Early access — contact your CSM |
🚀 Early access: Inventory is an early-access feature. Mobaro turns it on for your organization. Until then, Inventory shows greyed out in the Backend menu.
💡 Why this matters: Getting a real catalogue in by hand is the slowest part of adopting Inventory. An import turns days of typing into one file, and gets your teams working with real stock straight away.
How an import works
1. Request the template
Ask your Customer Success Manager for the latest Inventory import template. Keep its four data sheets and required headers. If your copy includes Status or File health checks, use them as a first check; Mobaro still validates the file against your organization.
2. Fill it in
Fill in the sheets in order: Warehouses and Categories, then Materials, then Stock. See the table below.
3. Send it back
Return the workbook to your CSM. Mobaro checks it against your organization's existing data and lists every problem by sheet and row. Nothing is imported while any error remains: you fix those rows and resend.
4. Mobaro runs the import
Once the file is clean, Mobaro imports it in one go. Opening stock appears in each material's Stock History as an Adjustment with the reason Workbook import.
What the template covers
Sheet | Columns | Notes |
Warehouses | Warehouse; Mobaro location ID (optional) | Each name must be new to your organization. |
Categories | Category; Parent category | Leave the parent blank for a top-level category. |
Materials | SKU, Name (required); Description, Manufacturer, Image URL, Category, Minimum stock (optional) | SKU up to 50 characters; Description and Image URL up to 255. |
Stock | SKU, Warehouse, Quantity, Minimum stock (optional) | One row per SKU per Warehouse. |
You do not have to fill in every sheet, but keep all four sheets and their required headers, even when empty. Missing required sheets or headers stops the import. Ask your CSM for a template that includes the optional Minimum stock (optional) columns.
Import minimum stock
The Materials sheet’s Minimum stock (optional) is the overall threshold across Warehouses. The Stock sheet’s Minimum stock (optional) applies only to that material in that Warehouse. Both are optional, non-negative and allow up to 3 decimal places. Blank means no minimum; zero is valid for a minimum.
Minimums do not create stock or permit a zero opening quantity. They are separate thresholds, not amounts to add together. See Set minimum stock and find shortages.
How rows are matched
Names ignore case.Ride Parts and Ride parts are the same category, so listing both is a duplicate. Spaces at the start and end are ignored.
Sheets link by name and SKU. A material names its category; a stock row names its material by SKU and its Warehouse by name.
SKUs are unique per Manufacturer. Two materials can share an SKU if their Manufacturers differ. The Stock sheet has no Manufacturer column, so stock rows for an SKU used by more than one Manufacturer are rejected as ambiguous; add that stock in the Backend instead.
Existing data can be referenced, not changed. Rows can point to categories, Warehouses and materials already in Mobaro. But an import only adds: a Warehouse, category or material (SKU and Manufacturer) that already exists is rejected, and so is stock for a material a Warehouse already holds.
Avoid common errors
No blank rows. Mobaro reads each sheet from the top and stops at the first empty row, so rows below a gap are left out.
No zero quantities. Leave a material with no stock off the Stock sheet. A stock row of 0 makes the import fail.
Numbers only in Quantity: not negative, with up to 3 decimal places.
Parent categories must exist, as a row in the Categories sheet or already in Mobaro. A category can't be its own parent, and parents can't loop.
Location IDs must be real. In Mobaro location ID (optional), use the Location's Mobaro ID (for example locations/123456-A) or leave it blank. You can target a Warehouse to a Location later — see Setting up Inventory.
Fill in the Manufacturer where you know it. It's optional in the import but required when you edit the material in the Backend, and two materials with the same SKU and no Manufacturer clash.
⚠️ Heads-up: Workbook checks do not replace Mobaro’s validation. A row marked as OK can still conflict with existing data. Use quantities above zero in the Stock sheet, even if your template accepts zero; zero is allowed for Minimum stock (optional).
After the import
Check stock per Warehouse — see Warehouses and stock levels.
Correct anything that's drifted — see Adjusting and transferring stock.
Keep adding and editing materials and categories by hand — see Materials and categories.
Start using materials on Assignments — see Requisitions: requesting and fulfilling stock.
After import, check the material’s overall minimum and its Warehouse Min stock values if these controls are enabled. They are separate settings.
The import does not set material prices or currency exchange rates. Configure currencies and add material prices in the Backend after importing.
Best practices
Tidy up first: retire dead parts and agree a naming convention before the file goes in.
Copy and paste category and Warehouse names between sheets rather than retyping them.
Use your suppliers' part numbers, or your existing system's codes, as SKUs.
If your template has Status or File health checks, clear the reported errors before sending it.
Import the quantities you'd expect to find on the shelf today, so teams start from numbers they trust.
Frequently asked questions
Can I run the import myself?
No. Imports are run by Mobaro. Send the completed template to your CSM; Mobaro checks it, tells you about any rows to fix, and imports it once it's clean.
Can we add our items to all our properties at once?
Yes, with a Warehouse per property. Materials are listed once for your organization; stock is per Warehouse. Add a Stock row for each SKU in each Warehouse that holds it, with its quantity.
What if there's a mistake in my file?
Nothing is imported. Mobaro checks the whole workbook first and lists each problem by sheet and row, such as a duplicate name or an unknown SKU. Fix those rows and resend the file.
Can I import again later to add more?
Yes, for new rows only. A later import can add materials, categories, Warehouses and stock, and can refer to ones already in Mobaro. It can't update existing ones: change those in the Backend.
Can I export my inventory to Excel?
You can export filtered Movements reports for Consumption, Adjustments and Transfers to Excel when enabled. This is a quantity report, not a full catalogue export or an import workbook. See Review and export Inventory movements.