Troubleshooting

Troubleshooting CRM Excel Data Cleaning Issues

Troubleshooting guide for CRM Excel data cleaning issues. Solutions to common problems and how to resolve them.

RowTidy Team
Dec 13, 2025
10 min read
Troubleshooting, CRM, Excel, Issues, Solutions

Troubleshooting CRM Excel Data Cleaning Issues

Troubleshooting CRM Excel data cleaning issues helps resolve problems quickly and maintain data quality. This guide covers common issues and their solutions.

Why Troubleshooting Matters

  • Quick Resolution: Solve problems fast
  • Maintain Quality: Keep data quality high
  • Prevent Escalation: Stop small issues becoming big
  • Time Savings: Avoid delays from unresolved issues
  • Confidence: Know how to handle problems

Issue 1: CRM Export Format Problems

Symptoms

  • AI tool can't read CRM export
  • Data appears incorrectly
  • Fields misaligned
  • Missing data
  • Format errors

Common Causes

  1. Incompatible export format
  2. Special characters in data
  3. Complex CRM field structures
  4. Large file sizes
  5. Encoding issues

Solutions

Solution 1: Standardize Export Format

  • Use standard Excel format (.xlsx)
  • Avoid special characters
  • Simplify field structures
  • Export in manageable sizes
  • Use UTF-8 encoding

Solution 2: Pre-Process Export

  • Clean export before AI processing
  • Remove special characters
  • Simplify structures
  • Validate format
  • Test compatibility

Solution 3: Contact Support

  • Report format issues
  • Provide sample file
  • Get format recommendations
  • Receive assistance
  • Resolve problems

Prevention

  • Standardize CRM export settings
  • Test exports before cleaning
  • Use consistent formats
  • Validate file structure
  • Document export process

Issue 2: Duplicate Detection Not Working

Symptoms

  • Duplicates not detected
  • False duplicate matches
  • Missing obvious duplicates
  • Incorrect duplicate groups
  • Low detection accuracy

Common Causes

  1. Similarity threshold too strict
  2. Matching rules incorrect
  3. Data format variations
  4. Missing matching fields
  5. AI needs training

Solutions

Solution 1: Adjust Thresholds

  • Lower similarity threshold
  • Test different settings
  • Find optimal balance
  • Reduce false negatives
  • Improve detection

Solution 2: Configure Matching Rules

  • Set up proper matching rules
  • Include all relevant fields
  • Use cross-field matching
  • Configure CRM-specific rules
  • Test rules

Solution 3: Train AI

  • Provide feedback on matches
  • Correct false positives
  • Confirm true duplicates
  • Help AI learn patterns
  • Improve accuracy

Prevention

  • Configure matching properly
  • Test on sample data
  • Adjust thresholds carefully
  • Provide AI feedback
  • Monitor detection accuracy

Issue 3: Data Loss During Cleaning

Symptoms

  • Records missing after cleaning
  • Data fields empty
  • Information lost
  • Records deleted incorrectly
  • Incomplete results

Common Causes

  1. Aggressive duplicate removal
  2. Incorrect merge rules
  3. Data filtering too strict
  4. Processing errors
  5. Backup not maintained

Solutions

Solution 1: Review Merge Rules

  • Check duplicate merge settings
  • Verify merge logic
  • Ensure data preservation
  • Test merge rules
  • Adjust as needed

Solution 2: Restore from Backup

  • Use original backup file
  • Restore lost data
  • Re-process with corrected settings
  • Verify data integrity
  • Confirm completeness

Solution 3: Adjust Settings

  • Less aggressive duplicate removal
  • Preserve all data fields
  • Review filtering rules
  • Ensure data retention
  • Test changes

Prevention

  • Always backup before cleaning
  • Review merge rules carefully
  • Test on sample data first
  • Monitor data retention
  • Verify results

Issue 4: Format Standardization Issues

Symptoms

  • Formats not standardized
  • Inconsistent results
  • Wrong format applied
  • Format errors introduced
  • Standardization incomplete

Common Causes

  1. Format rules not configured
  2. Multiple format patterns
  3. AI needs format examples
  4. Business rules unclear
  5. Format conflicts

Solutions

Solution 1: Configure Format Rules

  • Set up format standards
  • Define format rules
  • Specify target formats
  • Test format rules
  • Apply consistently

Solution 2: Provide Examples

  • Give format examples
  • Show desired formats
  • Help AI learn patterns
  • Provide feedback
  • Improve accuracy

Solution 3: Review Business Rules

  • Clarify format requirements
  • Document standards
  • Communicate rules
  • Ensure consistency
  • Update as needed

Prevention

  • Define format standards clearly
  • Configure rules properly
  • Provide format examples
  • Test standardization
  • Monitor results

Issue 5: Integration Problems

Symptoms

  • CRM export not connecting
  • Integration failures
  • Data not flowing
  • Connection errors
  • Workflow broken

Common Causes

  1. API credentials incorrect
  2. Connection settings wrong
  3. CRM system changes
  4. Network issues
  5. Configuration errors

Solutions

Solution 1: Verify Credentials

  • Check API keys
  • Verify authentication
  • Test connections
  • Update credentials
  • Reconnect systems

Solution 2: Review Configuration

  • Check integration settings
  • Verify field mappings
  • Test connections
  • Update configurations
  • Fix errors

Solution 3: Contact Support

  • Report integration issues
  • Provide error details
  • Get technical assistance
  • Resolve problems
  • Restore integration

Prevention

  • Test integrations thoroughly
  • Monitor connections
  • Keep credentials secure
  • Update configurations
  • Document setup

Issue 6: Performance Problems

Symptoms

  • Processing very slow
  • Timeouts occurring
  • System freezing
  • Resource exhaustion
  • Incomplete processing

Common Causes

  1. File too large
  2. Too many files at once
  3. System resources limited
  4. Network issues
  5. Complex data structures

Solutions

Solution 1: Optimize File Size

  • Split large files
  • Remove unnecessary data
  • Optimize structure
  • Reduce complexity
  • Process in batches

Solution 2: Manage Resources

  • Process fewer files
  • Increase batch intervals
  • Optimize system resources
  • Improve network
  • Reduce load

Solution 3: Contact Support

  • Report performance issues
  • Get optimization help
  • Receive recommendations
  • Resolve problems
  • Improve performance

Prevention

  • Keep files reasonably sized
  • Process in manageable batches
  • Monitor system resources
  • Optimize workflows
  • Plan capacity

General Troubleshooting Tips

Tip 1: Check Basics First

  • Verify file format
  • Check data structure
  • Validate settings
  • Test connections
  • Review configurations

Tip 2: Review Error Messages

  • Read messages carefully
  • Understand errors
  • Research solutions
  • Check documentation
  • Contact support if needed

Tip 3: Test with Sample Data

  • Use small test file
  • Verify tool works
  • Isolate problem
  • Test solutions
  • Validate fixes

Tip 4: Document Issues

  • Record problems
  • Note error messages
  • Document solutions
  • Track patterns
  • Share learnings

Common Issue Patterns

Pattern 1: Export-Related Issues

Frequency: Common
Solution: Standardize exports
Prevention: Document export process

Pattern 2: Duplicate Detection Issues

Frequency: Common
Solution: Adjust thresholds and rules
Prevention: Configure properly

Pattern 3: Format Issues

Frequency: Moderate
Solution: Configure format rules
Prevention: Define standards

Related Guides

Conclusion

Troubleshooting CRM Excel data cleaning issues ensures smooth operations and maintained quality. RowTidy provides comprehensive support and documentation to help resolve issues quickly.

Resolve issues quickly - contact RowTidy support.