# How to configure a CSV integration

 The CSV catalog integration lets you manage your product catalog faster than a native CMS integration with full autonomy and no dependency on other internal teams.

{% hint style="danger" %}
With CSV integration, Merchandising features are not supported - only Recommendations and Search use cases are available.
{% endhint %}

## **Prerequisites**

Make sure you have:

* A CSV file containing your product data, with each product on a separate row and each attribute in a column.
* Unique product identifiers (e.g. SKU, GTIN, or MPN) and other required information (see below)

## **CSV integration**

{% stepper %}
{% step %}

### **Upload your CSV**

1. Go to **Settings → Integrations** in your AB Tasty dashboard
2. Select **CSV Catalog** from the available options
3. Choose your file and upload it manually — or set up a recurring URL import
4. Wait for the import summary to validate that all products were parsed correctly
   {% endstep %}

{% step %}

### **Map your fields**

During the upload, check that your CSV columns match AB Tasty’s expected attributes:

| CSV field                      | Description                                                                                                                                                        | Required |
| ------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | -------- |
| `product_id`                   | Unique identifier (SKU). Used as the key reference for all recommendations, merchandising rules, and search indexing. Must remain stable across updates.           | ✅        |
| `name`                         | Product name displayed in recommendations, search results, and merchandising carousels. Should be concise and user-friendly.                                       | ✅        |
| `url`                          | Direct product page URL used for click-through tracking and redirecting users from recommendation widgets or search results.                                       | ✅        |
| `image_url`                    | Product image shown in recommendation widgets, merchandising placements, and search cards. High-quality public URL required.                                       | ✅        |
| `price`                        | Current selling price used to display price in widgets and for sorting or filtering rules in merchandising and search (e.g., “lowest price first”).                | ✅        |
| `currency`                     | ISO currency code (EUR, USD, etc.) associated with the price. Ensures correct display and aggregation across multi-currency catalogs.                              | ✅        |
| `category`, `brand`, `variant` | Classification and descriptive metadata used to refine recommendations (e.g., “similar products”), define merchandising groups, and enable faceted search filters. | Optional |
| `stock`                        | Current stock quantity or availability status. Used to hide unavailable items from recommendation carousels or search results.                                     | Optional |
| `active`                       | Boolean field indicating if the product is active and should be visible in recommendations, merchandising, and search.                                             | Optional |
| {% endstep %}                  |                                                                                                                                                                    |          |

{% step %}

### **Manage your sync**

* The CSV integration requires a **manual upload** each time you want to update your catalog.
* This approach allows you to **edit and update your catalog instantly**, without depending on internal tech teams or automated connectors.
* You can re-upload your file as often as needed - after each modification in your product list, attributes, or stock levels.
* Ideal for **quick tests, seasonal updates, or temporary catalogs** before moving to a more automated integration (API or CMS).

{% hint style="info" %}
Be cautious when editing your CSV: if product IDs, attribute names, or structures change, it may break existing strategies or recommendations relying on that data.
{% endhint %}
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### **Validate your integration**

After synchronization:

* Check the **Catalog** tab in your dashboard to confirm your data appears
* Verify prices, images, and categories are correctly formatted
* Test your **recommendation strategies** using products from your CSV

{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

## **Common issues**

| Issue             | Cause                        | Fix                                    |
| ----------------- | ---------------------------- | -------------------------------------- |
| File upload fails | Wrong delimiter or encoding  | Re-export and use consistent delimiter |
| Missing products  | Duplicate or empty SKUs      | Ensure unique product IDs              |
| Incorrect prices  | Wrong decimal or text format | Use numeric format only                |
| Broken images     | Invalid URLs                 | Use public HTTPS image links           |

## **Best practices**

* Prepare files in **Google Sheets or Excel**, export to CSV
* Check data consistency and completeness before upload


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