Overview
A useful Inventory import gives your team more than a list of parts. Each Material needs a clear identity, a useful category and the correct stock in each Warehouse.
Use this preparation checklist before sending your parts and consumables workbook to Mobaro. For the complete sheet rules and import process, see Importing your Inventory data.
At a glance |
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Who can do this | Anyone preparing the workbook; Mobaro performs the import |
Where | Inventory import workbook |
Works on | Backend (web) |
Availability | Early access — contact your CSM |
🚀 Early access: Inventory is in early access. Contact your CSM to confirm access for your organization.
Prepare the workbook
1. Agree on the stock units
Decide what one unit means for each Material before entering quantities. For example, record gloves as individual pairs or as boxes of 100, then use that unit consistently. Put the pack size in the Name or Description so the person in the field can interpret the quantity.
Give each Material a clear Name and its correct SKU. Include the size, rating or model when it distinguishes otherwise similar items. Keep identifiers with leading zeros as text in your spreadsheet.
2. Complete the Categories sheet
List the category names you plan to use. Enter a broader category in Parent category to place a category beneath it. For example, Bearings has Mechanical as its parent. A top-level category has no parent.
Use distinct names and consistent spelling. Do not create categories for every storage area; storage areas belong in the Warehouses sheet. For the category controls, see Materials and categories.
3. Categorize each Material
In the Materials sheet, fill Category with the category name, such as Bearings. Do not enter the full path “Mechanical > Bearings”. The parent relationship belongs in the Categories sheet.
Review every blank Category cell. Leaving the field blank is allowed, so an “OK” status does not mean that your catalogue is well organized. Decide where each Material belongs before handing over the workbook.
4. Check Material identities
Check the SKU and Manufacturer together. Mobaro uses this pair to distinguish Materials. Correct inconsistent manufacturer spelling and remove duplicate rows for the same Material.
⚠️ Heads-up: The Stock sheet identifies a Material by SKU only. If the same SKU identifies more than one manufacturer, ask Mobaro to help resolve the ambiguity before import. Do not change genuine part identifiers just to bypass the check.
5. Assign stock to Warehouses
List each storage area once on the Warehouses sheet. On the Stock sheet, use one row for each SKU and Warehouse combination, with its opening Quantity above zero. Use up to 3 decimal places; do not add a zero-quantity opening stock row. The same Material can have stock in more than one Warehouse.
Count stock using the agreed unit. A Material stocked in two Warehouses needs two stock rows, not two copies in the Materials sheet. See Warehouses and stock for the Warehouse setup.
Agree an overall minimum for each material and, where useful, a separate minimum for each Warehouse. They are independent thresholds: the overall minimum is not divided between Warehouses. Blank means no minimum; zero is a valid minimum.
The importer supports Minimum stock (optional) on both Materials and Stock. On Materials it sets the overall minimum; on Stock it sets the minimum for that SKU/Warehouse row. Use non-negative values with up to 3 decimal places. Ask your CSM for the latest template and confirm the columns before adding them to an older workbook.
6. Review the complete file
Check the workbook before sending it to your CSM or Mobaro Support:
Category names are clear, and each Material has been reviewed for categorization.
Names distinguish similar parts, and SKUs and manufacturers are consistent.
Warehouse names match the Stock sheet, opening quantities are above zero, and quantities and minimums use the agreed units.
There are no fully blank data rows between entries. The importer stops at the first blank data row on each sheet.
Status warnings are resolved, and no existing Material or stock row is being submitted as an update.
The import adds records. It does not update matching Materials or existing stock rows. Coordinate additions to an existing catalogue with Mobaro before sending the file.
Check thresholds and add prices after import
When minimum-stock controls are enabled, open a material and compare Minimum stock (all warehouses) with the workbook. In its Warehouses panel, check each row’s Min stock. See Set minimum stock and find shortages.
The Inventory workbook does not import prices, currencies or exchange rates. After importing, configure currencies and exchange rates first, then set material prices. Match each price to the same unit used for stock. Pricing and minimum-stock controls may be enabled separately; ask your CSM if they are missing.
Best practices
Have a storekeeper and a field team member review a small sample together.
Keep a copy of the submitted workbook and the agreed naming and unit rules.
After import, compare a sample of categories, Materials and Warehouse quantities with the workbook.
Frequently asked questions
The file says OK. Can the categories still be missing?
Yes. Category is optional in the Inventory import. Workbook status checks do not replace a review of how your team will browse and identify Materials.
Can I upload the workbook myself?
Mobaro performs the Inventory import. Send the completed workbook to your CSM or Mobaro Support. See Importing your Inventory data for the full process.
Can one Material be available in several stores?
Yes. Use one Material record and separate stock rows for each Warehouse. You do not need a duplicate Material or category for each store.