Understanding Bulk Import in BakeSmart

Bulk Import allows you to quickly add new Standard Products to your BakeSmart catalog by uploading a structured spreadsheet instead of creating each item manually. This tool is ideal when building out your menu, adding seasonal items, or expanding your existing product catalog.

Bulk Import creates products only. It does not update or overwrite existing products.

Accessing Bulk Import

To locate the Bulk Import tool:

Settings > Products > Bulk Import

From this screen, you can download the required template and upload your completed CSV file.

What Bulk Import Supports

Bulk Import is designed to add Standard Products—simple, fixed-price items with no modifiers or custom options.

Bulk Import does not support:

Custom items
Items with option lists or modifiers
Cakes or other made-to-order items
Bundles, collections, or signatures
Gift cards
Editing or updating existing products

These item types must be created manually in the product editor.

The Bulk Import Template

The Bulk Import spreadsheet is a BakeSmart-generated file that contains all supported fields for Standard Product creation.
You must download the template directly from the Bulk Import screen to ensure correct formatting.

The template includes one tab:

Standard Products

Columns and headers should not be renamed, rearranged, or removed.

Downloading the Template

Go to Settings > Products > Bulk Import
Select Download Blank Spreadsheet

💡 Delete the sample “Strawberry” product before uploading your file.
If you leave it in, it will be imported into your live catalog.

Understanding Each Field

Field	Description
Name	Required. Unique product name.
Category	Required. Broad product grouping.
Subcategory	Optional, more specific grouping.
Price	Required. Must be numeric only (e.g., `2.50`). Cannot include `$` and cannot be blank.
Product Code	Internal SKU or identifier.
Sort Order	Controls display order in the ordering app and order management system.
Department	Internal department assignment.
Description	Customer-facing description for online ordering.
Notes for Employees	Internal staff notes.
Alert (true/false)	Whether the item triggers an ordering alert.
Alert Message	Message displayed when alert is enabled.
EBT Eligible (true/false)	Indicates SNAP/EBT eligibility.

Minimum Required Fields

Every row must contain:

Name
Category
Price (numeric only, no symbols)

Any missing or incorrectly formatted field will cause the import to fail.

Uploading Your Products

Once your spreadsheet is complete:

Save the file as a CSV (Comma-Separated Values)
Go to Settings > Products > Bulk Import
Click Choose File and upload your CSV

BakeSmart will process the file and attempt to create the new products.

Import Errors and Troubleshooting

If any row contains an error:

The entire import fails
No products are created
Error messages appear in the Bulk Import screen

The errors will identify:

The exact row
The specific field
The reason the import failed

To correct:

Open your CSV
Fix the flagged fields
Save the file again as CSV
Reupload the file

The import will complete successfully once all issues are resolved.

Best Practices

Always use a fresh template from the Bulk Import screen
Delete the sample Strawberry product
Do not rename, reorganize, or remove columns
Ensure required fields are complete
Verify that prices are numeric only
Keep categories and departments consistent
Test with a small file when adding a large number of products

Video Walkthrough

A detailed video guide is available here:

[VIDEO LINK PLACEHOLDER]

More Help

If you need assistance or want to report an issue:

Click the Help icon inside the BakeSmart app
Select Give Feedback
Describe your question or issue
Attach photos or videos if helpful
Submit the form

A BakeSmart team member will review your submission and reach out with support.

Keywords

bulk import, standard products, product import, csv upload, add products in bulk, bakeSmart catalog, ordering system setup, product management

Understanding Bulk Import in BakeSmart