Changing CRM also changes working rules. Before importing contacts, choose the information that will help teams pick up a case. A populated spreadsheet does not mean its data is ready to use.
Start with a representative sample
Select some active accounts, prospects and cases with several contacts. Include a known duplicate and an incomplete account. The sample should reveal migration difficulties before working through the whole database.
Separate organisation, person and opportunity
An organisation can have several contacts and projects. Mixing them in one cell makes updates fragile. Define their relationships and identifiers, then decide which source takes precedence when values differ.
Decide how discrepancies will be handled
Similar names do not establish a duplicate. Compare available identifiers and have uncertain matches reviewed. Record separately what can be corrected, what needs a decision and what should stay outside the import.
Verify the result with users
After a test migration, find an account, locate its contact and continue an opportunity. Check record counts and rejections, as well as viewing and editing permissions. Keep a correction record so the migration can be explained.
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