New Lyrek Import System - beta release

[Lyrek Admin]

I'm pleased to announce that the Lyrek CEMS AJAX Import System (BETA) is in its final stages of testing and will be available to new or renewing subscribers.

Reserve-U
As you may recall, Reserve-U's import script was quite limited in that it only allowed users to import 7th on Sixth lists prior to fashion seasons. In order for users to import their own data it either needed to be handled by Reserve-U Support Technicians or reformatted to mimic 7th on Sixth lists.

Old Lyrek Import System
Lyrek's overhaul of the Data Import system enabled users to add custom database fields (free text and dropdown lists) which were searchable and also provided the capabilities of creating Import Formats and having Lyrek automatically recognize which format was being used for the import. This meant that any data was importable and could be formatted easily and quickly.

Lyrek Contact and Company Overwrite
Last year, we provided an upgrade to your system to enable users to check a box to automatically overwrite contacts and/or companies based on matching criteria (First Name, Last Name, Company Name, Email Address, Phone Number, etc.). Shortly after this release, we realized that the Overwrite Companies option was too sensitive to user changes and was disabled. This isn't to say that it wasn't working properly, but that it was working too well and didn't account for human error (switching Street with St., changes in company status from LLC to Inc., etc.).

Our subscribers are consistently telling us how we can make Lyrek more intuitive, versatile and stress-free, and a common request was to make the import process smarter. Due to this overwhelming demand, and the increased lease rates for our site-licensed subscription model which makes these updates financially possible, Lyrek technicians have spent the last few months rebuilding the import script from the ground up.

Required Fields
As import needs grew, so did the size of the data files being imported. Importing large numbers of records led users to request a "Required Fields"? test. In each installation of Lyrek, administrators were given control over which data was to be automatically imported into system databases, by forcing records to match pre-determined criteria. First Name and Last Name are still the only required fields for import by default, but adding the new Required Fields test gave users more control over which fields are mandatory.

NEW Lyrek AJAX Import System (Beta)
Lyrek AJAX Import provides users with the capability of selecting a supervised or unsupervised import option.

Unsupervised
The Unsupervised Option works similar to the Lyrek Data Import System with Contact Overwrite options, but has been expanded beyond the basic functionality. Now users can select if they want to:

1. Add All Contacts as New (New!)
2. Overwrite All Existing Records that match the Imported Record (Lyrek Contact Overwrite)
3. Discard All Matching Import Records (New!)
4. Move All Matched Import Records to Pending/Duplicate Manager (Standard Lyrek Data Import)

Supervised
The Supervised Option enables users to interact with the import process in realtime to:
1. Observe Required Fields Test
2. Observe Matching Company Record or Add, if new
3. Observe Matching Local Record or Add, if new
4. Observe Matching Magazine Record or Add, if new
5. Check for Duplicates and select an option for moving forward:
   a. Update Existing Record with Imported Record Data
   b. Add Imported Record as New Contact
   c. Move Imported Record to Duplicate Manager/Pending
   d. Delete Imported Contact Record
Both the Supervised and Unsupervised Options provide comprehensive system logging to assist Lyrek users in troubleshooting when records were merged, added, deleted and overwritten. They also show Current and Total Record progress meters to display status and assist with understanding of the completion.
 
As with before, you can download a CSV file of records that failed to meet the Required Fields specifications to modify this file and reimport the records. Lyrek AJAX Import now provides additional resources for viewing exact data of import logs so questions should never arise as to why contacts are restricted from import, existing as duplicates, overwritten or deleted.
The Lyrek AJAX Import System is still in Beta testing and if your lease renews in the next few weeks, please be aware that it will not be available until after the testing is complete. If your lease renews within a few months, be on the look-out for the new option under the Contacts >> Import Data section. As always, context-Sensitive help is available, just look for the ( ? )  icon.