Single Bulk Import for Travel

Feature Request: Single Bulk Import for Travel

Summary:
Provide users with the ability to import all travel-related data in a single action via a multi-tabbed Excel upload, similar to the existing Ram view. This will streamline data entry for complex travel scenarios and ensure consistent, accurate population of all related travel records.

Problem Statement:
Today, users must either enter travel data manually across multiple screens or perform multiple separate imports for different travel components (e.g., flights, lodging, per diem, other expenses). This is time-consuming, increases the risk of data entry errors and inconsistencies, and makes it difficult to manage complex trips with many line items. When dealing with large volumes of travel, the current approach becomes a bottleneck for project setup and updates.

Proposed Solution:
Introduce a single bulk import mechanism for travel data that accepts a structured, multi-tabbed Excel template modeled on the Ram view.
Each tab in the template should correspond to a specific travel component with defined column headers and validation rules.
The import process should validate data before committing changes, highlighting errors (e.g., missing required fields, invalid dates, mismatched project codes) and allowing users to correct and re-upload as needed.
Support mapping of imported records to existing entities (e.g., projects, travelers, cost codes) to avoid duplicates and maintain referential integrity.
Provide a clear import summary, including counts of successfully imported records, skipped records, and any issues requiring user attention.

Benefits:
Reduces manual data entry time for travel setup and maintenance, especially for large or complex engagements.
Improves data accuracy and consistency by centralizing input into a single validated template.
Minimizes the risk of duplicate or incorrectly linked travel records.
Enhances user experience by aligning the import process with the familiar Ram view structure.
Enables faster onboarding and updates when travel plans change, supporting more agile project and cost management.