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Onboarding2 min read

Choosing Manual Setup or Import

How the onboarding setup choice works, when to create your first grouping and service manually, and when to go to imports instead.

Work Planner TeamApril 13, 2026

The onboarding screen asks how you want to get started because Work Planner needs to know whether it should create a simple starting structure for you now or hand over to the import tools instead.

Manual Setup

Choose Add your first ... and service when you want the fastest possible start and you are happy to build the business inside Work Planner rather than bringing it in from somewhere else.

  • Grouping name field: this field changes its label to match the terminology you chose earlier, such as Round Name or Route Name. This becomes the first grouping record in the new business.
  • Service Name: this becomes the first service record in the new business. Use the service you are most likely to create jobs against first.
  • Both fields work together: if you fill one of them, Work Planner expects the other one as well. Manual setup is treated as a pair rather than two unrelated fields.

Import

Choose Import Existing Data when you already have live customer, job, or round data elsewhere and want to bring it over instead of rebuilding it. On this page, the import choice does not ask which provider you use. It simply sends you to the import area next, where you can choose the source there.

What Changes On The Page

  • Manual selected: the extra fields for your first grouping and first service appear.
  • Import selected: those manual fields are cleared and hidden so they do not accidentally clash with the import flow.
  • Continue button: the button text changes to Continue to Import when import is selected. Otherwise it stays Continue to Dashboard.

What Happens After Save

  • Manual setup: Work Planner creates the business, creates the first grouping, creates the first service, and then takes you into the dashboard.
  • Import setup: Work Planner creates the business first and then takes you to the import area so you can continue from there.
  • No mixed setup: the onboarding request checks that you are not trying to do both at the same time.

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