There may be times when you need to add points or reset points balances for many customers at once. For example, you might be launching your loyalty program, moving from another loyalty provider to Smile, or awarding points for historical orders before you started using Smile.
Importing a comma-separated values (CSV) file is the most efficient way to update customers’ points balances in bulk.
You can import points for all customers at your store — not just those who have created an account with an email and password. This means you can also update guest customers’ points balances via CSV.
ℹ️ Note: If you only need to update a small number of customers, you can adjust points manually by following the instructions to Manually adjust a customer’s points balance.
💡 Important: CSV imports are not reversible. Once you have imported your data, the changes made will be permanent.
Creating a Smile CSV template
To create a CSV file to adjust points balances, you can:
Download Smile’s CSV template:
Create your own file using Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets.
Export your existing customer list and modify it for import.
If you want to export your existing customers in Smile you can follow the instructions here.
ℹ️ Note: Mac Numbers does not export the CSV files correctly. CSV imports will not work using this spreadsheet platform.
Populating data in the CSV file
To import points balances into Smile, your CSV file must be formatted correctly.
Your file must include only the following two column headers:
emailpoints
After preparing your template:
Enter each customer’s email address in the
emailcolumn.Enter the points balance in the
pointscolumn. Enter points values without commas (for example, enter 52620 instead of 52,620). Adding a comma will cause the wrong number of points to be imported.Save the file as a CSV.
Using the CSV file to adjust customers' points balance
You can update points balances in two ways:
Add points to existing points balances. This allows you to add additional points to customers.
Reset points balances to a new value. The replaces the customer points balances to what you have set in the CSV file.
Once your CSV file is ready:
From Smile Admin, go to Customers.
Click Adjust points totals.
Select either Add points to existing customer balances or Reset existing customer balances.
Upload your CSV file.
Enter a Reason for adjustment. This is an internal note that helps you track the import.
Enter a customer facing note, or use our default. Customers will see this note in their points history.
Click Import points.
You can track the import’s progress using the progress bar at the top of the page. When the import is complete, you’ll see a confirmation in the progress bar and receive an email notification.
ℹ️ Note: Adjusting a customer’s points balance can also affect their VIP tier if you have a VIP program that uses points earned as the milestone type. If an adjustment increases their total points earned enough for them to enter a new VIP tier, they will receive that tier’s entry reward. Negative adjustments that reduce a customer’s total points earned and cause them to fall out of a VIP tier will not revoke any rewards they have already earned.
💡 Important: Customers don’t receive email notifications for CSV imports.
The only exception is when:
VIP tiers are enabled,
VIP emails are turned on, and
A customer moves to a higher tier as a result of the import.
In this case, the customer will receive any enabled VIP tier change emails.