Compare
Import Data Templates compared with the built-in tools
Configuration Packages, Edit in Excel and Copilot next to Import Data Templates.
| Configuration Packages | Edit in Excel | Copilot |  Import Data Templates | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Designed for | Setup data at implementation | Editing the rows of one page in Excel | Suggesting sales lines from unstructured text or a file | Recurring imports of business data from files |
| File in its original layout, no reshaping | No, the package layout is required | No, the columns of the page are required | Yes, interpreted by AI | Yes, the template describes the file |
| Documents with header and lines | Partly, two tables linked by hand | No, lines of an existing document only | No, lines of one existing sales document only | Yes, from one file |
| Several documents in one file | Partly | No | No | Yes |
| Journals | Yes | Yes, in the open batch | No | Yes, batch chosen at import time |
| Master data with related records | Partly, separate tables | No | No | Yes, master record and related records from one row |
| Price lists | Partly, separate tables | Partly, rows of one list | No | Yes, with replace and activate actions |
| File validation | Partly, in the package worksheet | No, row by row on publish | No, the suggestion is reviewed by the user | Yes |
| Template proposed by Copilot from a sample file | No | No | No | Yes, reviewed before it is saved |
| Mapping rules, default values, import parameters | Partly | No | No | Yes |
| Actions after the import (release, post, activate prices) | No | No | No | Yes |
| Import history and duplicate prevention | No | No | No | Yes |
| Unattended, through an API | No | No | No | Yes, watched folders or the API |
| Same result every time | Yes | Yes | No, depends on the interpretation | Yes |
| Set up by | Consultant or key user | Any user | Any user | Key user, from the Business Central pages |
| Cost | Included | Included | Included, where available | $10 per user per month |
When the built-in tool is enough
- A one-off load of setup data or opening balances: Configuration Packages.
- Correcting or completing rows of one page, occasionally: Edit in Excel.
- One sales order from a customer's e-mail, checking the output: Copilot.
When Import Data Templates is the right tool
- The same kind of file arrives repeatedly, in a layout you do not control, and users re-key it or reshape it in Excel.
- The file contains documents with header and lines, or master data with related records, to be created in one pass.
- Errors must be reported with the line of the file that caused them.
- Something must happen after the import: release, post, replace and activate prices, block a duplicate file.
- The import must run without a user, from Power Automate or another system.