How to Import Payroll From Excel, CSV, or a Photo
Pay day should not die in copy-paste hell. Upload a CSV, Excel file, JSON, or photo of your salary list, match names to your roster, fix rows inline, and.
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Published
28 January 2025
Updated
28 January 2025
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Short answer: Pay day should not die in copy-paste hell. Upload a CSV, Excel file, JSON, or photo of your salary list, match names to your roster, fix rows inline, and apply payroll before you manually retype every line.
Sound familiar?
Your ops lead sends a paysheet at 9pm. Column headers are wrong, two names are spelled differently from last month, and pay day is tomorrow. Retyping 15 rows is how you pay the wrong person the wrong amount.
What import fixes in real life
- Messy spreadsheets from accountants or HR
- WhatsApp photos of handwritten or printed lists
- Close name matches ("Adebayo T." vs "Adebayo Timothy")
- One bad row without re-uploading the entire file
The goal is review and confirm, not blind trust.
How to run an import without surprises
- Open Imports in Staff Pay (or upload via Staffy in chat)
- Drop your CSV, Excel, JSON, or image
- Review matched staff, flagged names, and amounts
- Fix inline anything that looks off
- Apply to payroll when the list matches reality
Picture this
You photograph a signed salary sheet from a branch manager. Staffy reads the table, matches eight staff, flags one "Chidi O." vs "Chidi Okonkwo", and you confirm before apply. Pay day stays on schedule.
Match rules that save you from embarrassment
- Exact matches apply automatically
- Close matches wait for your tap
- Unknown names can be linked to new or existing staff
- Amount edits stay on the review screen until you commit
Do this today
- Use flat, well-lit photos (no curved pages)
- Keep one name style across months when you can
- Fix one row inline instead of starting over
- Run import before wallet funding if amounts changed
- Publish payslips the same day as pay when possible
When it clicks
Payroll week shrinks from hours of typing to a short review. Staff get paid on time, and you keep a clear trail of what was imported and when.
A calmer way to handle this
Paysheet import on Staff Pay reads spreadsheets and photos, matches your roster, and lets you confirm before pay. Create an account or explore Staff Pay.
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