Bulk Updating Vendors

Discovery allows you to update multiple vendors at once using a CSV file rather than editing them individually. This process involves exporting your vendor data, making edits, and uploading the revised file.

For more information on bulk updates, please refer to our bulk updates overview.

Overview

Bulk updating vendors is a two-part process:

  1. Export existing vendor data from Discovery.
  2. Edit the file and upload it using the Bulk Imports tool.

Step 1: Export Vendors

Before you can update vendors, you must export them from Discovery.

  1. Go to Vendors.
  2. Use filters if you only want to export certain vendors.
  3. Click Export to CSV
  4. Find the file under Data Exports and save the file to your computer.

Step 2: Edit the File

Open the exported file in Excel.

You can update certain fields. Some fields are required. Some fields are helper columns and will not update data.

Important: All column headings must remain in the file.

Required Fields

These fields must remain in the file and must contain valid values.

  • id* | the vendor id generated by Discovery upon creation. This field cannot be edited.
  • name | the vendor name.
  • address_street
  • address_city
  • address_state_code | Max of 2 characters. Must be a valid state/province code
  • address_postal_code
  • address_country_code | must be one of the following:
    • US
    • CA

Optional Fields

These fields can be left blank or updated if needed.

  • work_order_request_email_address
  • general_email_address
  • general_phone_number
  • general_fax_phone_number
  • external_reference_id
  • sticky_notes
  • has_gps_tracking_on_trucks | Must be Y or N
  • legal_mailing_address
  • check_remittance_address
  • vendor_template_id | Must be a valid vendor template id
  • external_accounting_id | Must be a valid external accounting id

Step 3: Save the File

When you finish making updates:

  1. Save the file as: vendors.csv**
  2. Make sure the file format is CSV.

Step 4: Upload the File

  1. Go to Settings>Bulk Imports
  2. Click Create
    1. Select Bulk Import
  3. Choose Replace Existing as the type.
  4. Upload your vendors.csv** file.
  5. Click Save to submit the bulk update.

Tips for Success

✅ Do not edit the id column - it is how Discovery identifies which vendor to update.

✅ Keep all column headings in the file

✅ external_accounting_id  must match an ID that already exists in your connected accounting system.

✅ vendor_template_id  must reference a valid vendor template in Discovery.

✅ Save the file as CSV format

*When any ID field is required (_id), this indicates an ID that is generated and assigned by Discovery to a unique entity. You'll need to retrieve these ID's from Discovery. The general method to retrieve ID's in bulk is through a Custom Report. Please see the Export ID's with Custom Reports article covering how to generate a Custom Report to retrieve specific entity ID's.


**Import file name and its column headers cannot be edited.

If you have additional questions or need more in depth information, please feel free to send us a message using the help beacon in the lower right-hand corner.

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