Whether you are coming from MoeGo, Gingr, PetExec, Timely, Square, BusyPaws or any other system, our migration team brings across almost everything, so you can start working straight away.
Our team helps you through the move. Email support@petboost.com.au and we will help with data mapping, clean-up and checking.
Ways to import
Google Sheets import
The recommended way to import your data. Fill in the Petboost template sheet, or share your own sheet with Petboost support, and we handle the rest. A spreadsheet lets you see and edit the data before it is imported, clean it up, and work on it with your team, with no software to install.
- Export the data from your current system as CSV or Excel.
- Open it in Google Sheets.
- Review it and clean up any problems.
- Share the link with Petboost support, or use Magic Google Sheets Mode in the import below.
CSV import
For uploading a file yourself: export from your current system and import it directly. Petboost takes standard CSV files, including CSVs saved from Excel, in UTF-8 encoding, which handles special characters.
Switching from MoeGo? Watch our step-by-step video on exporting your customer and pet data and importing it into Petboost.
Supported source platforms
Petboost has templates and matches the columns automatically for these platforms:
| Platform | Customer data | Pet data | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| MoeGo | Yes | Yes | Direct export works. Watch the video |
| Pet Manager | Yes | Yes | Columns are matched automatically |
| ProPetWare | Yes | Yes | Export as CSV first |
| Gingr | Yes | Yes | Standard export format |
| PetExec | Yes | Yes | Customer and pet export |
| Generic CSV | Yes | Yes | Any structured data |
Don't see your platform? Send us a sample export and we will help create a mapping.
What we migrate
We bring across your core business data, so you do not have to type it in again:
| Data | Imported | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Customers | Yes | Names, emails, phone numbers, addresses, emergency contacts, notes |
| Pets | Yes | Names, species, breeds, birthdates, weight, microchip, vaccinations, allergies, behavioural notes |
| Services | Yes | Your full service menu with pricing |
| Add-ons | Yes | Additional service options |
| Team members & hours | Yes | Staff profiles and working schedules |
| Resources | Yes | Rooms, baths, grooming stations, kennels, etc. |
| Account settings | Yes | Business configuration and preferences |
| Packages | Yes | Package definitions and structures |
| Package credits | Yes | Existing customer balances |
| Memberships | Yes | Each member's plan and next billing date. Cards cannot move, so each member adds theirs in Petboost before that date, or the membership ends. |
| Upcoming appointments | Yes | Loaded from your go-live date onwards, including recurring series. You review the transferred calendar against your old system and confirm it before go-live. Payment and deposit states are not transferred. |
| Photos | Yes | Brought across during an assisted migration where your old system can provide them. Not included in self-serve CSV imports. |
What we don't migrate
| Data | Why | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Appointment history | Past appointment records stay in your old system. On an assisted migration, the notes written on past visits come across as dated diary entries on each pet, where your old system holds them. Only upcoming appointments from your go-live date move as bookings. | Keep access to your old system for anything else from past visits, such as old invoices. |
| Appointment payment states | Payments and deposits are processor-specific and never transfer. | Prepaid bookings are noted on the appointment and reviewed on your account review call. |
| Invoices & payment history | Payment processor-specific data tied to your old system | Historical financial records stay in your old system for reference |
Import customers and pets yourself
Export from your current system
Export instructions vary by platform. Contact us if you need help.
- Log in to your current system and go to its customer or client export.
- Select every field available.
- Export as CSV or Excel, and save the file somewhere secure.
Prepare your data
- Open the file in Google Sheets or Excel.
- Remove any columns you do not need.
- Check for duplicate customers, invalid email addresses, incomplete phone numbers and missing pet names.
- Make the formatting consistent, such as for phone numbers and dates.
Upload to Petboost
- Open Customers & Pets and open the gear menu beside Add New.
- Select Import Customers & Pets.
- Choose Magic CSV Import to upload one combined CSV, or two CSVs for owners and pets. To use a sheet instead, choose Magic Google Sheets Mode and enter your email, and Petboost shares its template sheet with you to fill in.
- Petboost matches your columns automatically. There is no mapping step.
- For a CSV, select Magic Validate to check each row, then Import to Petboost. Only rows that pass are imported.
CSV imports of 120 pets or more run in the background, pick up again if they are interrupted, and email you when they finish.
Check the imported data
- Browse the customer profiles.
- Check the pets are attached to the right owners.
- Check a sample of records for accuracy.
- Report any problems to support.
After import: review your data
Petboost migrates the data your old system provides, as it is provided. Anything incomplete or out of date in your old system is incomplete or out of date in Petboost too, which is why this review matters.
- Sense-check the information. Browse your customer and pet profiles to confirm everything looks right.
- Review the failed imports sheet. Every account gets a Google Sheet that flags any customer or pet records that could not be imported cleanly, so you can review and fix them when it suits you.
- Report any problems. Our team will help resolve anything that does not look right.
Avoid duplicate customers
Petboost does not merge records during an import:
- A phone number or email repeated within one CSV is skipped
- An owner whose phone or email already exists in Petboost, with the same first name, is linked to that existing profile. Their existing details are not changed
- A pet with the same name as one the owner already has is not added again
- A phone or email already used under a different first name fails the row
Review the results after an import and fix the failed rows in your file. Support can help with complex cases.
When you add a customer by hand after the move, Petboost checks the phone number as you type:
- Open Customers & Pets and select Add New.
- Enter the owner's Phone under Create Pet Owner and Pet.
- If Existing customer appears, select Open profile and add the pet on that profile instead of creating a new customer.
If you create the customer and the number already belongs to someone registered under another name, Petboost asks whether it is the same person, with Yes, Same Person - Link Account.
Common data problems
Invalid email addresses
If the import fails or emails bounce, remove or correct invalid addresses, such as john@example instead of john@example.com. For a customer with no email, leave it blank and add it later.
Phone number formatting
If phone numbers look wrong, use one format throughout, such as 0491 570 159 or +61491570159, remove stray spaces and special characters, and include the country code for international numbers.
Date format mismatches
If birthdates or vaccination dates come out wrong, use DD/MM/YYYY, the Australian format, or YYYY-MM-DD, the ISO format. Avoid the US format, MM/DD/YYYY.
Special characters
If names show garbled characters, save the CSV in UTF-8 encoding, or export again from your old system with the UTF-8 option. Fix anything left over in Petboost by hand.
Export customer and pet data
Export your customers and pets as CSV files, such as for a marketing platform like Mailchimp, a backup copy, reports outside Petboost or analysis in a spreadsheet.
- Open Customers & Pets and open the gear menu beside Add New.
- Select Quick Export: Pet Owners, Quick Export: Pets or Quick Export: Combined. The CSV downloads straight away.
Quick Export: Pet Owners holds each owner's name, phone and email. Quick Export: Pets holds each pet's name, breed, animal type, birthdate and quick notes, with its owner's name and phone. Quick Export: Combined puts owners and their pets on one sheet. For a chosen group of customers, use Smart Export in the same menu, and for a full copy of your account's data, use Export Your Data. See Export Your Data.
Frequently asked questions
What happens to my data in my old system (e.g., BusyPaws, Pawfinity, Gingr)?
Your data stays in your old system until you choose to delete it. We recommend you:
- Keep access for 3 to 6 months after switching.
- Use the old system for historical reference, such as past appointments and old invoices.
- Make sure you have exported everything you need before you cancel.
- Take screenshots of any important historical data.
Tip
Most platforms keep data for a period after cancellation. Check their data retention policy before you cancel your subscription.
How long does migration take?
Core data is usually across within 24 hours of us receiving usable data from your old system. On an assisted migration that clock starts when you give us access, usually at the demo, not when you finish an export. Complex data that needs cleaning before it can move takes longer. The migration is complimentary as part of your onboarding, unless a separate written quote applies. Our onboarding team supports you throughout.
Can I import appointment history?
Upcoming appointments from your go-live date onwards are loaded for you as part of an assisted migration, including recurring series. You review the transferred calendar side by side with your old system and confirm it before go-live, and anything you find is corrected first. Past appointment records stay in your old system, and the notes written on those visits come across as dated diary entries on each pet where your old system holds them. See the Assisted 24-Hour Migration terms.
What if some data is missing or wrong after import?
- Check your Google Sheet. Every account gets a Google Sheet that flags failed imports for your review.
- Fix small problems by editing the customer or pet profile directly.
- Contact support for corrections in bulk.
- Import again. We can re-run the import with corrected data if needed.
Can I import data from multiple sources?
Yes. When you combine data from several systems:
- Combine it into one master spreadsheet first.
- Remove duplicates before importing.
- Do not import the same person twice. Petboost does not merge two profiles.
For a duplicate that is already in Petboost, keep the profile with the history and archive the other. See How do I merge duplicate customer records? and Avoid duplicate customers.
Getting help
For help with your migration, email support@petboost.com.au, use live chat from 9am to 5pm AEST, Monday to Friday, or call 1800 291 005. Our onboarding team has migrated hundreds of businesses and knows the common pitfalls.
Related articles
- Getting Started with Customers & Pets: setting up customer profiles
- Managing Pet Profiles: adding and editing pet information
- Pet Attributes: pet profile fields
Ready to import? Email support@petboost.com.au to schedule your migration assistance, or start with Import Customers & Pets on Customers & Pets.