Data Import lets distributors manage their catalog, customers, and pricing without connecting an external ERP or back-office system. Instead of relying on an automated integration, an admin maintains the distributor's data directly in the Pepper Management Center (PMC) using CSV uploads and a live data management interface.
This makes it possible to keep catalog, customers, pricing, and item assignments accurate and up to date, without any technical setup or IT involvement.
Where to find it: PMC > Tools > Data Import
Key Benefits
No integration required: Upload and manage your catalog, customers, and pricing directly in PMC using spreadsheets you already work with.
Full visibility before changes go live: Every upload shows a detailed review screen so admins can confirm exactly what will change before applying it.
Complete audit trail: Every upload is logged with who made the change, when, and what was updated. No need to contact support to trace a change.
Always export-ready: Any data table can be exported as a CSV in the same format as the upload template, making edits and re-uploads straightforward.
Who This is Built For
Data Import is designed for distributors who:
Do not have an ERP system, or use lightweight back-office software (such as QuickBooks) that does not require a full integration.
Are currently in the middle of an ERP migration and need a stable ordering experience while systems are being switched over.
The admin responsible for managing data does not need any technical background. If they can work with a spreadsheet, they can manage their data through Data Import.
What Admins Can Manage
Admins upload an maintain the following data through Data Import:
Items: the distributor's full product catalog
Customers: customer accounts and their details
Custom Prices: customer-specific pricing
Inclusions and Exclusions: which items are available to which customers
DSM-DSR Assignments: assign/unassign DSRs to DSMs
Each data type is managed through its own section in the Data Import navigation. Live, filterable tables show exactly what is currently active at any moment.
How Uploads Work
Each data type follows the same upload flow: select a file, choose an upload mode, review the proposed changes, and apply them. Nothing is updated until an admin confirms the review screen.
Step 1: Select Your File
Admins can upload a CSV file directly, or connect a Google Sheets document that has been published to the web as CSV (via File > Share > Publish to web). To start from existing data, use the Download Current Data option to export the current dataset in the correct format, make changes in Excel or Google Sheets, then re-upload.
Step 2: Choose an Upload Mode
When uploading, admins choose between two modes:
Delta Update (recommended): Only the rows included in the uploaded file are processed. Existing records not included in the file remain unchanged. Use this for targeted updates, such as adjusting a set of prices or adding new items.
Full Replacement (use with caution): The uploaded file becomes the complete dataset. Any existing records not included in the file will be deactivated. Use this when rebuilding a dataset from scratch.
Step 3: Review Changes Before Applying
Before any changes go live, a review screen displays a summary and a detailed breakdown of what will change, including old and new values. Admins can download a diff file for reference. Changes are only applied after confirming on this screen.
Filtering Data
Each data table can be filtered to help admins find and review specific records. Filters can be stacked to narrow results across multiple columns at once.
To add a filter:
Click Filters in the top right of the data table.
Select a column from the Select column dropdown.
Choose a condition (e.g. Equals) and enter a value.
Click + Add Filter. The filter will appear under Active Filters and the table will update immediately.
To add another filter, repeat the steps above. The Filters button will display a count of how many filters are currently active.
To remove a filter:
To remove a single filter, click the × next to it under Active Filters.
To remove all filters at once, click Clear all.
Upload History
Every upload is recorded in the Upload History section. The log includes who uploaded the file, when it was uploaded, and what changed. Admins can use this to trace any change back to a specific upload without needing to contact support.
Things to Know
CSV templates are available by downloading current data for each section. The export format matches the upload format exactly, so there is no need to reformat files before re-uploading.
Full Replacement mode will deactivate any existing records not present in the uploaded file. Review the diff carefully before applying.
Google Sheets connections require the sheet to be published to the web as CSV before connecting.
Data Import is a permanent operating mode, not a temporary workaround. Distributors who later add an ERP integration can transition smoothly, since their data is already structured and clean in PMC.