Add Customer

The Add Customer form allows you to create new customer records with comprehensive information for effective relationship management.

Accessing the Add Customer Form

  1. From Customer List: Click the "Add Customer" button in the header
  2. From Sidebar: Navigate to Customers → Add Customer
  3. Direct URL: Navigate to /customers/add

Form Overview

The Add Customer form is organized into logical sections to make data entry efficient and organized.

Basic Information Section

Required Fields

  • Customer Name *: Company or organization name
  • Primary Contact Email *: Main contact email address
  • Primary Contact Phone *: Main contact phone number

Optional Fields

  • Website: Company website URL
  • Industry: Business industry or sector
  • Company Size: Number of employees
  • Notes: Additional information about the customer

Contact Information

Primary Contact Details

  • Contact Person Name: Full name of the primary contact
  • Job Title: Contact's position or role
  • Email: Contact's email address
  • Phone: Contact's phone number
  • Mobile: Contact's mobile number

Additional Contact Information

  • Address: Company address
  • City: City name
  • State/Province: State or province
  • Postal Code: ZIP or postal code
  • Country: Country name

Business Information

Company Details

  • Tax ID: Tax identification number
  • VAT Number: Value Added Tax number (if applicable)
  • Registration Number: Business registration number
  • Founded Date: When the company was established

Financial Information

  • Payment Terms: Standard payment terms (e.g., Net 30)
  • Credit Limit: Maximum credit amount
  • Currency: Preferred currency for transactions

Form Features

Real-time Validation

  • Required field indicators: Red asterisks (*) mark required fields
  • Email validation: Ensures proper email format
  • Phone validation: Validates phone number format
  • Real-time feedback: Immediate validation messages

Auto-save Functionality

  • Automatic saving: Form saves as you type
  • Draft recovery: Recover unsaved changes if browser closes
  • Save indicators: Visual feedback when changes are saved

Form Navigation

  • Section tabs: Navigate between form sections
  • Progress indicator: Shows completion percentage
  • Keyboard shortcuts: Use Tab to navigate between fields

Best Practices

Data Entry Tips

  • Use consistent naming: Follow company naming conventions
  • Complete all fields: Fill in as much information as possible
  • Verify contact details: Double-check email and phone numbers
  • Add meaningful notes: Include relevant business context

Contact Information

  • Primary contact: Always designate a primary contact person
  • Multiple contacts: Add additional contacts after customer creation
  • Contact roles: Specify the role of each contact person
  • Communication preferences: Note preferred contact methods

Business Context

  • Industry classification: Helps with reporting and segmentation
  • Company size: Useful for pricing and service level decisions
  • Geographic information: Important for regional considerations
  • Financial details: Essential for invoicing and payment processing

Form Actions

Save Options

  • Save and Continue: Save current progress and stay on form
  • Save and Add Another: Save and start a new customer form
  • Save and View: Save and navigate to customer details page
  • Cancel: Discard changes and return to customer list

Validation and Submission

  • Form validation: All required fields must be completed
  • Error handling: Clear error messages for invalid data
  • Success feedback: Confirmation when customer is created
  • Duplicate checking: Warns about potential duplicate customers

Advanced Features

Customer Templates

  • Template selection: Choose from predefined customer templates
  • Custom templates: Create templates for common customer types
  • Template fields: Pre-fill common information automatically

Import Options

  • Bulk import: Import multiple customers from CSV/Excel files
  • Data mapping: Map import columns to customer fields
  • Validation: Validate imported data before creation
  • Error reporting: Detailed reports of import issues

Integration Features

  • Consultia sync: Sync with external Consultia systems
  • Contact import: Import contacts from email systems
  • Company lookup: Auto-fill company information from databases

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

  • Form not saving: Check internet connection and try again
  • Validation errors: Review error messages and correct field values
  • Duplicate warnings: Verify if customer already exists
  • Slow performance: Clear browser cache or try refreshing

Data Recovery

  • Auto-save recovery: Check for saved drafts in form
  • Browser back: Use browser back button to recover data
  • Form reset: Use reset button to start over
  • Contact support: Reach out if data cannot be recovered

Keyboard Shortcuts

  • Tab: Navigate to next field
  • Shift + Tab: Navigate to previous field
  • Ctrl/Cmd + S: Save form
  • Ctrl/Cmd + Enter: Save and continue
  • Escape: Cancel form

Next Steps

After creating a customer, you can:

  1. Add contacts: Create additional contact records
  2. Set up pricing: Configure customer-specific pricing
  3. Create proposals: Start working on proposals
  4. Add documents: Upload relevant customer documents
  5. Set up integrations: Connect with external systems

Customer created successfully? Continue to Edit Customer to learn how to modify customer information.