BOM Bulk Import/Export

Feature Request: BOM Bulk Import/Export via Excel

Summary:
Enable users to perform bulk import and export of Bills of Material (BOMs) using Excel files, allowing efficient handling of large datasets while preserving data accuracy and structure. This capability will streamline BOM maintenance and reduce manual effort for large or frequently changing assemblies.

Problem Statement:
Today, BOM data must be created and maintained manually or through limited, item-by-item updates. This is slow, error-prone, and not scalable for complex products with large or frequently updated BOMs. Without an Excel-based bulk import/export capability, users struggle to synchronize BOMs with external systems, perform mass updates, or review large structures efficiently, resulting in data inconsistencies and wasted time.

Proposed Solution:
Support BOM export to Excel so users can quickly pull a structured BOM (including key fields such as part numbers, descriptions, quantities, and hierarchy) into a spreadsheet for review and modification.
Allow BOM import from Excel, mapping spreadsheet columns to BOM fields and supporting creation, update, and (optionally) removal of BOM lines in bulk.
Provide validation during import (e.g., missing required fields, invalid references, or structure conflicts) and a clear, human-readable summary of any errors or warnings.
Ensure that bulk operations respect existing relationships and hierarchy in the BOM, preserving referential integrity and preventing accidental data loss.
Offer configuration options for administrators to define allowed templates, required fields, and field mappings to align with organizational standards.

Benefits:
Substantially reduces the time and effort required to create and maintain large or frequently changing BOMs.
Improves data quality and consistency by enabling controlled, validated bulk updates instead of ad hoc manual edits.
Makes it easier to synchronize BOM information with external tools (such as PLM, ERP, or supplier spreadsheets) through a familiar Excel workflow.
Enhances user satisfaction and adoption by aligning with existing engineering and operations practices that rely heavily on Excel.