WooCommerce powers shops that vary from one product to 1000’s. However regardless of the scale of your retailer, you might end up needing to import and export merchandise and orders. Copying data manually, one merchandise at a time, will be tedious. The power to import and export this information in bulk could make retailer administration extra environment friendly and fewer irritating.
Mentioned on this article:
When ought to I import or export merchandise?
Undecided in the event you want import and export performance on your retailer? There are fairly just a few eventualities the place importing and exporting merchandise in bulk can be helpful to only about any on-line store. Chances are you’ll want to do that if:
You may have a lot of merchandise that have to be transferred or up to date
If you happen to’re organising your retailer for the primary time and you’ve got a big catalog of merchandise, are importing a brand new batch of stock into an current retailer, or are updating product data in bulk, you may profit from a bulk import/export.
It is advisable to ship product information to warehouses
If you happen to’re organising a relationship with a warehouse for the primary time, they’ll need data on all of your merchandise — together with product identify, description, SKU, transport methodology, and prices. If you happen to don’t have already got a spreadsheet with this information, you’ll need to have the ability to export that data instantly out of your WooCommerce retailer.
It is advisable to export your product catalog to a market like Amazon
If you happen to’ve primarily run your retailer on WooCommerce and at the moment are starting to department out to Amazon, Etsy, Fb/Instagram, and different marketplaces, you might discover it useful to easily bulk export your merchandise out of your WooCommerce retailer right into a CSV or XML file. You’ll be able to then add this file to {the marketplace} you’d prefer to work with.
If you happen to solely have 4 or 5 merchandise, you might in all probability add them manually, however in the event you’ve acquired a catalog of a whole bunch or 1000’s, you undoubtedly don’t need to spend days or perhaps weeks making an attempt so as to add these one-by-one.
It is advisable to import merchandise from one other eCommerce platform to WooCommerce
If you happen to’re transferring from BigCommerce, Shopify, Magento, or another eCommerce platform, having the ability to import your product catalog in bulk is a big time saver.
It is advisable to replace product data in bulk
If you happen to embrace the identical data in each product description and abruptly discover that this modifications, you’ll both need to replace every product individually or discover a option to change all of them without delay.
Let’s say your retailer gives 200 t-shirt designs and each one has a coloration possibility of blue, black, and pink. You obtain a notification that your producer will now not provide pink shirts. Now it’s a must to replace 200 merchandise to mirror this alteration. As a substitute of going into every one individually and eradicating the pink variation, you might bulk export your merchandise, delete the pink possibility, after which import the revised data again into WooCommerce.
You need to create a printed product catalog
Prior to now, firms led with printed catalogs and ultimately got here round to creating eCommerce shops. However today, the price of creating an internet store is exponentially extra inexpensive than designing, printing, and mailing catalogs. It’s more likely {that a} store would begin with eCommerce after which later determine to create a printed catalog. If that is so on your retailer, having the ability to export all of your product information instantly out of your on-line store may also help expedite your catalog design course of.
When ought to I import and export orders?
Importing and exporting orders is significant for environment friendly administration of medium to massive eCommerce shops. However even smaller shops may want import/export performance for WooCommerce now and again. Under are some instance eventualities:
You’re sending orders in batches through a CSV file to your warehouse
If you happen to don’t have a direct integration between your WooCommerce retailer and your warehouse, you could have to ship orders in a CSV or Excel file. Whilst you might transcribe order data manually into your CSV file, it will be fairly time consuming and liable to errors. As a substitute, you might do a every day export of orders that you just ship to your warehouse, which might prevent time and scale back the potential of typos and missed orders.
You want particular information to run reviews
Whereas WooCommerce has a whole lot of totally different reporting capabilities, you might need to generate reviews distinctive to your organization. As an illustration, in order for you one which exhibits what number of of a selected product is offered in a specific nation, state, or province per yr, you’ll must create this your self. Exporting full product gross sales and order information offers your analyst the info they should make this occur.
You’re importing orders in bulk that have been positioned manually by means of e mail, over the cellphone, or in particular person
If you happen to take a lot of orders by means of channels apart from your web site, you don’t need to spend hours including every one individually to your retailer. If you happen to can centralize your offline orders to a single CSV file that’s uploaded in bulk, you’ll save a whole lot of time.
You need to retailer order historical past off-site
If you happen to delete order information periodically in WooCommerce, you may need to again up historic orders in a CSV file someplace in case you might want to entry them sooner or later.
Find out how to import and export merchandise and orders
There are just a few methods to import and export merchandise and orders relying on the kind of data you want:
- Constructed-in product import and export instruments: Nice for importing and exporting product information for easy and variable product sorts
- The built-in analytics instrument, WooCommerce Analytics: A wonderful possibility for exporting some kinds of fundamental product and order information
- The WordPress native Import and Export instrument: Nice for importing and exporting extra detailed information. Nevertheless, the outcomes will likely be in an XML file and so they look a bit messy. Additionally they don’t export or import full order information.
- An import/export extension: The quickest and easiest methodology right here. That is additionally nice for customizing the data you need to import/export and dealing with detailed information.
- Database guide import and export: Good for coping with full or detailed product and order information. Nevertheless, this requires some growth expertise.
Hold studying for detailed directions.
Importing and exporting merchandise with the built-in Product Import/Export instrument
WooCommerce comes with the flexibility to bulk import just a few various kinds of merchandise, together with:
- Easy
- Variable
- Subscription merchandise
- Product bundles
- Composite merchandise
NOTE: If you might want to import or export WooCommerce Bookings, WooCommerce Manufacturers, or different customized product sorts, you’ll want to make use of a premium extension like those we focus on beneath.
Importing merchandise
Earlier than importing your merchandise, you’ll want a CSV file with all of your product data, formatted in order that WooCommerce can correctly interpret the info. One of the simplest ways to generate that is to obtain the pattern CSV file on Github. From there, you’ll be able to change the pattern information with your personal.
You can too create a CSV file from scratch utilizing the Product CSV Import Schema. If you wish to import merchandise from an current WooCommerce retailer, you’ll be able to export them from the prevailing retailer and alter any vital data earlier than importing it into the brand new one.
Which CSV editor ought to I take advantage of?
Google Sheets, Open Workplace’s Calc program, and LibreOffice’s Calc program are all nice software program for modifying your CSV information. If you happen to’re on a Mac, you may as well use Numbers. Keep away from Microsoft Excel resulting from formatting and character encoding points.
How ought to I format my CSV file?
There are just a few formatting and data-related stuff you’ll want to concentrate to in your CSV file. If you happen to don’t observe these guidelines, you may find yourself with a failed import or incorrect data in your retailer.
- CSV information ought to be in UTF-8 format.
- Use your retailer’s native timezone for dates.
- For true/false values, use 1 for true and 0 for false.
- A number of values in a subject ought to be separated with commas.
- Wrapping values in quotes means that you can insert a comma.
- Prefix the id with id: if referencing an current product ID. No prefix is required if referencing a SKU. For instance: id:100, SKU101
- Customized meta is supported however solely plain textual content. There’s no assist for JSON or serialized information.
- Taxonomy time period hierarchy is denoted with > (e.g. T-shirts>Youth>Licensed Cartoon Tees). Phrases are separated with commas (e.g. short-sleeved,long-sleeved,cap-sleeved).
- Merchandise which might be in draft standing are usually not exported, solely revealed and privately revealed merchandise. Nevertheless, you’ll be able to import a product with a draft standing.
- It’s not potential to assign a selected put up ID to a product on import. Merchandise will at all times use the following obtainable ID, whatever the ID included within the imported CSV.
- Pictures must already be uploaded to your web site or obtainable by means of a publicly accessible exterior hyperlink to be imported to your retailer. Some cloud storage providers use redirect scripts that forestall the picture file from being imported, so be sure that your picture is obtainable on the precise hyperlink you specify.
- If the product picture already exists within the Media Library, you’ll be able to merely enter the file identify as a substitute of your complete file path.
Import new merchandise or replace current merchandise
You need to use the Import characteristic to import new merchandise or replace current ones.
1. In your WordPress dashboard, go to WooCommerce → Merchandise.
2. Choose Import on the prime of the Merchandise web page. You’ll be taken to a multi-step web page, step one of which is Add CSV File.
3. Choose Browse to decide on the CSV you need to use.
4. If you happen to’re updating current merchandise, verify the Replace current merchandise field.
5. CSV delimiter: Usually CSV parts are separated by a comma. If you’re utilizing a distinct delimiter in your file, you’ll be able to set it right here.
6. Column mapping preferences: If you happen to’ve set column mapping preferences prior to now and need to use them, you’ll be able to verify this field.
7. Click on Proceed. This can take you to the Column mapping display.
WooCommerce will routinely try to map the Column Identify out of your CSV to Fields.
8. If there are any fields you don’t need to import, you should utilize the dropdown menus beneath Map to subject to point ‘Don’t import.’ You can too choose the sphere you need your column identify mapped to. Any unrecognized columns or unmapped fields won’t be imported by default.
9. When you’ve mapped all of your fields, click on Run the Importer.
10. You’ll see a display that claims “Importing. Your merchandise at the moment are being imported.” Wait till the Importer is completed. Don’t refresh your browser whereas it’s in progress. When your import is full, you’ll be taken to the Achieved! display and from there you’ll be able to click on View Merchandise to overview them and ensure that they have been imported accurately.
Exporting merchandise
If you might want to export merchandise out of your retailer, the method is pretty simple.
1. In your WordPress dashboard, go to WooCommerce → Merchandise and click on Export on the prime of your display.
You’ll be taken to Export merchandise to a CSV file. From right here, you’ll be able to choose which columns, what product sorts, and what product class you need to export.
2. Make your alternatives, then click on Generate CSV.
3. Wait on your export to complete and obtain your file.
WooCommerce Product Import & Export
For extra detailed data on importing and exporting merchandise with the default WooCommerce Product Import and Export instruments, learn the WooCommerce Getting Began Documentation.
Exporting product and order information with WooCommerce Analytics
WooCommerce Analytics gives reporting particulars about your retailer’s gross sales, merchandise, and orders. Exporting this information is helpful if you wish to overview finest promoting merchandise, evaluate income for various time durations, get an summary in your inventory ranges, or determine your most loyal prospects. Whilst you can’t import exterior information on to WooCommerce Analytics, in the event you’re utilizing a model of WooCommerce older than 4.0 and are upgrading to 4.0 or above, you’ll be able to import historic information out of your earlier model of WooCommerce.
Understand that WooCommerce Analytics is restricted to pretty high-level information and doesn’t import/export full product or order data. If you happen to want detailed data like what number of gross sales have been made in a selected nation over a sure time frame or want to bulk edit product descriptions in your retailer, you’ll must export that information instantly out of your database or utilizing an extension like Import Export Suite for WooCommerce.
Exporting product analytics
In your Product Analytics view, you’ll be able to select a date or date vary after which view all merchandise, see a single product, or select a product comparability view.
Product reviews can embrace:
- Product title
- SKU
- Variety of gadgets offered
- Internet gross sales
- Variety of orders
- Classes
- Variety of variations
- Inventory Standing (In Inventory, Low Inventory, Out of Inventory, N/A)
- Inventory Amount
To filter your outcomes for particular information columns, click on on the vertical ellipsis on the prime proper of your product outcomes view.
You’ll be able to toggle on or off the SKU, Orders, Class, Variations, Standing, and Inventory columns. When your report displays the data you want, click on the Obtain button on the prime proper of your product outcomes view. Your information will likely be downloaded as a CSV file.
Exporting order analytics
In your Order Analytics view, you’ll be able to select a date or date vary after which view all orders or select from some superior filters like:
- Order Standing
- Merchandise
- Variations
- Coupon Codes
- Buyer Kind
- Refunds
- Tax Charge
- Attributes
Order reviews can embrace:
- Date
- Order quantity
- Standing
- Buyer identify
- Buyer sort
- Product(s) bought
- Variety of gadgets offered
- Coupon(s) used
- Internet gross sales
To filter your outcomes for particular information columns, click on on the vertical ellipsis on the prime proper of your product outcomes view.
You’ll be able to toggle on or off the Standing, Buyer, Buyer sort, Product(s), Gadgets offered, and Coupon(s) columns. When your report displays the data you want, click on the Obtain button on the prime proper of your product outcomes view. Your information will likely be downloaded as a CSV file.
WooCommerce Analytics
WooCommerce Analytics is a reporting and information evaluation instrument that comes with model 5.3 and above of WooCommerce. The suite consists of superior filtering and segmenting instruments on your reviews, report downloads in CSV format, and a customizable dashboard to observe key metrics of your retailer. Study extra
Exporting product and order information with WordPress’ Export instrument
WordPress natively means that you can export totally different put up sorts as XML information. This characteristic is situated in Instruments → Export in your WordPress dashboard.
WordPress’ Export instrument can export customized put up sorts like:
- Merchandise
- Variations
- Orders
- Refunds
- Coupons
Notice: Select Merchandise or Orders as a substitute of Product or Order when exporting.
Understand that for order exports, the outcomes are considerably restricted in that it does not embrace the names of the merchandise or the amount offered in every order.
The WordPress Export instrument’s formatting is probably not ultimate on your functions, both. The information will likely be exported as an XML file, so until you intend on importing this information instantly into one other WooCommerce web site, you’ll in all probability need to view the outcomes as a CSV file. To do that you’ll both must convert it to a CSV file utilizing Notepad++ (Home windows) or a free on-line conversion instrument. The ensuing formatting shouldn’t be fairly and is usually a bit messy to kind by means of. If you happen to want order particulars like which merchandise have been ordered and what number of, you’ll nonetheless need to export that data instantly from the database or use a plugin to deal with your exports.
Importing product and order information with the WordPress Import instrument
To import product or order information utilizing the WordPress Import instrument, you’ll must be sure that your file is formatted similar to the export file for whichever put up sort you’re importing. Exporting a put up sort first may give you a template for how one can arrange your import file.
This exported file may even outline what kinds of information will be imported. That is particularly necessary on the subject of order data for the reason that Orders put up sort doesn’t embrace full order data.
Whilst you can edit your file as a CSV, as soon as your file is configured you need to ensure you reserve it as an XML file.
When your file is prepared and saved in XML format, open your WordPress dashboard and go to Instruments → Import.
Scroll to the underside of the following display till you discover the WordPress possibility, then click on Run Importer.
Choose your XML file utilizing the Select File button, then click on Add file and import.
Utilizing WooCommerce extensions to import and export merchandise and orders
The quickest and least error-prone option to import and export WooCommerce merchandise and orders is to make use of an extension. This protects time and reduces the potential for errors. Relying on the info you want, there are just a few nice options to select from — Import Export Suite for WooCommerce, Product CSV Import Suite, Buyer/Order/Coupon CSV Import Suite, and WooCommerce Buyer/Order/Coupon Export.
Import Export Suite for WooCommerce
With Import Export Suite for WooCommerce, you’ll be able to import, export, migrate, and replace all of your WooCommerce information in bulk utilizing both a CSV or XML file. All WooCommerce product sorts are supported, together with:
- easy
- grouped
- exterior
- variable
You can too import and export orders, product critiques, coupons, subscriptions, and prospects.
Import Export Suite for WooCommerce consists of a number of different helpful options, like:
- Scheduled imports and exports. You’ll be able to automate your imports and exports on a schedule you select. These processes run within the background so you’ll be able to proceed to work on different areas of your web site.
- Import/export historical past. The suite shops your entire import and export historical past and consists of the choice to re-run the identical import/export once more.
- Information and debug logs. You’ll be able to view all the info associated to your import/export processes and verify debug logs if a course of fails and you might want to troubleshoot the difficulty.
- Import and export customized fields and hidden metadata.
- Create customized exports utilizing filters. You’ll be able to specify the entire variety of merchandise to export, skip first n exports, embrace or exclude merchandise by class, and specify particular merchandise to export by product identify.
Product CSV Import Suite
Product CSV Import Suite is particularly geared towards importing and exporting merchandise. Along with having the ability to import and export the identical product sorts that WooCommerce does by default, it’s additionally set as much as deal with data from WooCommerce Bookings, Product Distributors, WooCommerce Manufacturers, Google Product Feed, and WooCommerce Pictures.
Product CSV Import Suite is ready to seize customized subject and taxonomy data you can embrace in your imports and exports. It’s going to additionally import customized information from extensions like Product Add-Ons and Dynamic Pricing.
With Product CSV Import Suite, you will have extra granular management of what product information you export out of your retailer. You can too export merchandise in draft mode.
Buyer/Order/Coupon CSV Import Suite
Buyer/Order/Coupon CSV Import Suite is barely an importer. It doesn’t create exports. You’ll must buy its companion plugin WooCommerce Buyer/Order/Coupon Export or one other order export plugin if you wish to export order data.
The importer can deal with a number of totally different import codecs, and columns will be mapped to the suitable WooCommerce fields to merge or create orders. Your information will be imported as a file, copy and pasted, or added through a URL.
Along with importing and merging orders, you’ll be able to import and merge prospects and coupons. This extension additionally means that you can import customized fields and taxonomies related to orders, prospects, and coupons.
A number of transport strategies per order are supported and order information imports within the background so to import massive information units with out risking timeouts.
WooCommerce Buyer/Order/Coupon Export
WooCommerce Buyer/Order/Coupon Export is an export instrument solely that outputs information in CSV and XML format. If you might want to import buyer, order, or coupon information, you should utilize its companion extension, Buyer/Order/Coupon CSV Import Suite.
With this extension you’ll be able to export particular person orders, prospects, or coupons and automate your exports with information transfers through FTP, HTTP POST, or e mail. The export course of runs asynchronously within the background in your web site so you’ll be able to proceed working in different areas of your retailer whereas your export completes.
Different useful options embrace:
- Customized codecs that embrace buyer and order meta. You can too customise exports to fit your CRM or order success system — rearrange and add new fields and embrace customized meta information and static values.
Which resolution is best for you?
There’s no one-size-fits-all resolution for each import and export requirement. Chances are you’ll have already got what you want from the built-in WooCommerce Import and Export instruments and WooCommerce Analytics. In case you have a extra distinctive state of affairs, a premium extension like Import Export Suite for WooCommerce is perhaps your best choice.
Take the time to contemplate what import and/or export information you might want to effectively and successfully run your retailer and select the answer that finest helps your targets.
