Customer CRUD Operations

Customer CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete) operations are the fundamental building blocks of customer management in Consultia. This guide covers all aspects of managing customer data throughout their lifecycle.

Overview

CRUD operations allow you to manage the complete customer lifecycle from initial creation through ongoing updates and eventual archival or deletion.

Screenshot: Customer CRUD operations overview

Create - Adding New Customers

Customer Creation Form

The customer creation form provides a comprehensive interface for adding new customers:

Screenshot: Customer creation form with all fields

Required Fields:

• Company Name: Official company or organization name
• Primary Contact: Main contact person's name
• Email Address: Primary contact email address
• Phone Number: Primary contact phone number
• Address: Business address information

Optional Fields:

• Website: Company website URL
• Industry: Customer's industry or sector
• Company Size: Number of employees or company size
• Notes: Additional notes or information
• Tags: Custom tags for organization
• Logo: Company logo upload

Step-by-Step Creation Process

Step 1: Access Customer Creation

1. Navigate to Customers section
2. Click "Create Customer" button
3. Fill in required information
4. Add optional details
5. Review and save

Step 2: Basic Information

• Enter company name and contact details
• Add business address information
• Include website and industry details

Step 3: Additional Details

• Upload company logo if available
• Add relevant tags for organization
• Include notes or special requirements

Step 4: Review and Save

• Review all entered information
• Verify contact details accuracy
• Save customer record

Validation Rules

Data Validation:

• Email Format: Valid email address format required
• Phone Format: Standard phone number format
• Required Fields: All required fields must be completed
• Unique Names: Company names should be unique
• Character Limits: Respect field character limits

Business Rules:

• Duplicate Check: System checks for existing customers
• Contact Verification: Verify contact information
• Address Validation: Validate address information
• Industry Classification: Standard industry categories

Read - Viewing Customer Information

Customer List View

The customer list provides an overview of all customers:

Screenshot: Customer list with search and filter options

List Features:

• Search Functionality: Search by name, email, or company
• Filter Options: Filter by industry, status, or tags
• Sort Options: Sort by name, date created, or activity
• Bulk Actions: Perform actions on multiple customers
• Export Options: Export customer data

Customer Detail View

Detailed customer information is organized in tabs:

Screenshot: Customer details page with tabbed interface

Information Tabs:

• Basic Info: Company and contact information
• Contacts: All associated contacts
• Projects: Customer projects and work
• Invoices: Invoice history and status
• Documents: Associated documents
• Notes: Customer notes and history

Customer Search and Filter

Advanced search and filtering capabilities:

Screenshot: Advanced customer search interface

Search Options:

• Global Search: Search across all customer fields
• Field-Specific Search: Search specific fields
• Date Range: Filter by creation or activity date
• Status Filter: Filter by customer status
• Industry Filter: Filter by industry type

Update - Modifying Customer Information

Edit Customer Form

Update customer information through the edit form:

Screenshot: Customer edit form with current information

Editable Fields:

• Company Information: Name, address, website
• Contact Details: Phone, email, contact person
• Business Information: Industry, size, classification
• Custom Fields: Tags, notes, custom attributes
• Logo: Update company logo

Update Process

Step 1: Access Edit Mode

1. Navigate to customer details
2. Click "Edit" button
3. Modify required information
4. Save changes

Step 2: Field Updates

• Update company information
• Modify contact details
• Change business classification
• Update custom fields

Step 3: Validation and Save

• Validate updated information
• Check for conflicts
• Save changes
• Update audit trail

Bulk Updates

Perform updates on multiple customers:

Screenshot: Bulk customer update interface

Bulk Operations:

• Status Updates: Update status for multiple customers
• Tag Management: Add/remove tags in bulk
• Industry Changes: Update industry classification
• Contact Updates: Update contact information
• Export/Import: Bulk data operations

Delete - Managing Customer Removal

Soft Delete

Customers are typically soft-deleted to preserve data:

Screenshot: Customer soft delete confirmation

Soft Delete Features:

• Data Preservation: Customer data is preserved
• Status Change: Customer marked as inactive
• Access Control: Limited access to deleted customers
• Recovery Option: Can be restored if needed
• Audit Trail: Complete deletion history

Hard Delete

Permanent deletion for data cleanup:

Screenshot: Hard delete confirmation with warnings

Hard Delete Process:

• Confirmation Required: Multiple confirmations needed
• Data Backup: Automatic backup before deletion
• Related Data: Handle related records
• Audit Logging: Complete audit trail
• Irreversible: Cannot be undone

Deletion Workflow

Step 1: Deletion Request

1. Navigate to customer details
2. Select delete option
3. Choose deletion type
4. Confirm deletion

Step 2: Data Handling

• Handle related records
• Update references
• Preserve audit trail
• Backup if needed

Step 3: Confirmation

• Final confirmation
• Deletion execution
• Status update
• Notification to users

Data Management

Customer Data Structure

Organized customer data structure:

Screenshot: Customer data structure and relationships

Data Categories:

• Basic Information: Company and contact details
• Business Information: Industry, size, classification
• Relationship Data: Contacts, projects, invoices
• Custom Fields: Tags, notes, custom attributes
• Audit Information: Creation, modification history

Data Validation

Comprehensive data validation:

Screenshot: Data validation interface

Validation Rules:

• Format Validation: Email, phone, address formats
• Business Rules: Industry standards, naming conventions
• Relationship Validation: Contact associations
• Duplicate Detection: Prevent duplicate entries
• Data Integrity: Maintain data consistency

Data Import/Export

Bulk data operations:

Screenshot: Data import/export interface

Import Features:

• CSV Import: Import customer data from CSV
• Field Mapping: Map import fields to system fields
• Validation: Validate imported data
• Error Handling: Handle import errors
• Progress Tracking: Track import progress

Export Features:

• CSV Export: Export customer data to CSV
• Field Selection: Choose fields to export
• Filter Options: Export filtered data
• Format Options: Choose export format
• Scheduling: Schedule regular exports

Best Practices

Data Quality

Data Entry Standards:

• Consistent Formatting: Use consistent naming conventions
• Complete Information: Fill all available fields
• Regular Updates: Keep information current
• Validation: Validate data before saving
• Documentation: Document data sources

Data Maintenance:

• Regular Reviews: Review customer data regularly
• Cleanup: Remove outdated information
• Standardization: Standardize data formats
• Backup: Regular data backups
• Audit: Regular data audits

Workflow Integration

Creation Workflow:

• Lead Qualification: Qualify leads before creation
• Information Gathering: Gather complete information
• Validation: Validate all information
• Approval: Approve new customers if needed
• Onboarding: Complete customer onboarding

Update Workflow:

• Change Requests: Process change requests
• Approval Process: Approve significant changes
• Notification: Notify relevant parties
• Documentation: Document changes
• Follow-up: Follow up on changes

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Creation Problems:

• Validation Errors: Check field requirements
• Duplicate Detection: Verify customer doesn't exist
• Permission Issues: Check user permissions
• System Errors: Contact support if needed

Update Issues:

• Locked Records: Check if record is locked
• Permission Denied: Verify update permissions
• Validation Failures: Check data validation
• Conflict Resolution: Resolve data conflicts

Deletion Problems:

• Related Records: Handle related data first
• Permission Issues: Check deletion permissions
• System Constraints: Check system constraints
• Recovery Options: Use recovery if needed

Next Steps

1. Customer Details: Learn about Customer Information
2. Contact Management: Understand Contact CRUD
3. Data Import: Set up Customer Data Import
4. Reporting: Generate Customer Reports

---

Last updated: January 15, 2025 at 15:05 UTC

Navigation:

• Previous Page: Customer Management
• Next Page: Customer Relations