How to move from Timely to Mahi Time
Timely exports clean CSVs from its Reports area, and the Mahi Time importer recognises Timely's column names, including the combined date and time column on the appointment schedule, which the importer splits for you. Most salons finish the data side in under an hour.
Timely menu paths checked 31 October 2026 against the Timely help centre. Vendors move menus; tell us if a step no longer matches.
Who this guide is for
Salons, barbers, clinics and studios in New Zealand or Australia on any Timely plan (Build, Elevate or Innovate). You need Owner or Admin access in Timely to reach Reports.
Importer source to pick: Timely (GetTimely)
What comes across
- Clients: names, mobile, email, date of birth, notes and marketing opt-in.
- Services: names, categories, durations and prices (from the Services report, or read from your public Timely booking page by our extractor).
- Upcoming bookings: date, time, staff member, service, client and status.
- Appointment history: as far back as the date range you export.
What does not
- Stored card details (they are held by TimelyPay and cannot be exported by anyone).
- Consultation form responses and photos. Download anything you must keep from each client record.
- Gift voucher balances. Export the voucher report and we will load outstanding balances for you.
- Staff rosters. Set working hours under Team in Mahi Time; it takes a few minutes.
Part 1. Export from Timely
Inside Timely, on a desktop browser.
-
1
Export the customer list
In Timely on a desktop browser open Reports, then under Customers choose Customer List. Clear any filters so every client is included, then click CSV. The file saves as a Customer List export (customers.csv or similar) in your Downloads folder.
-
2
Export the appointment schedule
Back in Reports choose Appointment Schedule. Set the date range to cover at least everything from today forward (go back a year if you want history), include all staff and locations, then click CSV. Timely writes the appointment date and time in one combined column; leave it as it is, the Mahi Time importer splits it.
-
3
Export services
In Reports choose the Services report (or Sales by Service with the widest date range) and click CSV. If your plan does not include that report, paste your public Timely booking page URL into the Mahi Time service importer and it reads your menu from there.
-
4
Optional: request the full data export
Timely's help centre also offers a full account data export on request (Importing and exporting > How to request and access your Timely data export). Use it if you want everything in one archive; it can take a few days to arrive.
-
5
Do not open the files in Excel
Opening and re-saving a CSV in Excel can reformat dates and strip leading zeros from phone numbers. Upload the files exactly as Timely produced them.
Part 2. Import into Mahi Time
Settings > Import data in your Mahi Time admin.
-
6
Open the importer
In your Mahi Time admin go to Settings > Import data. The wizard runs in three passes: clients first, then services, then bookings, because bookings reference the other two.
-
7
Pick the source and upload
Choose the platform you are leaving (or Other / generic CSV), then upload the matching file. The reader accepts comma, semicolon or tab separated files and strips Excel byte-order marks.
-
8
Check the mapping preview
Every Mahi Time field is listed with the CSV column we matched to it. Required fields are starred. The preview shows the first five rows so you can catch a swapped first and last name before anything is written.
-
9
Resolve the unmatched staff warning
When a booking file names a staff member that does not exist in your workspace yet, the wizard warns you and lists the names. Add those people under Team (or map the column to a different name) and re-run the preview. Rows with an unknown staff member are skipped, never guessed.
-
10
Run the import
Click Run. You get a summary of imported, skipped and failed rows with the reason for each. Imports are idempotent: re-running the same file updates rows instead of duplicating them, so you can fix a column and run again.
Part 3. Switch day checklist
The order matters. Do these on the day you go live.
-
11
Take a final export
On switch day, export clients and bookings from the old system one last time and re-run the import so the last few days of bookings come across. Re-runs update in place.
-
12
Close new bookings in the old tool
Turn off online booking in the old system (or set its booking page to closed) so clients cannot book into a calendar you are no longer watching.
-
13
Swap the booking link
Update the Book now link on your website, Instagram bio, Facebook page and Google Business Profile to your Mahi Time booking page. If you use the embed snippet, paste it from Settings > Embed.
-
14
Point the phone at the receptionist
If you have the AI phone receptionist, forward your business number (or your after-hours line) to the number shown under Voice agent. It starts answering in your business name straight away.
-
15
Tell your clients
Send one SMS or email from Mahi Time: new booking link, same team, same prices. Anyone who replies to the SMS reaches you, because it comes from a local number.
-
16
Keep the old account read-only for a month
Do not cancel the old subscription on day one. Keep it for a billing cycle so you can look up anything the export missed, then cancel.
Or we do it for you
Would rather not touch a CSV? Send us your exports through the contact form and we will map and import them for you, free, usually within one working day.
After the trial: NZ$109 (approx A$100) a month for two team members, NZ$21 (approx A$19) per extra. No commission.
Moving from Timely: questions
Does the importer handle Timely's combined date and time column?
Yes. The appointment schedule export has one column with date and time together. Map it to Start and the importer splits it, honouring NZ and AU date order.
What happens to bookings for a staff member who has left?
The unmatched staff warning lists them. Either add the person as an inactive team member so history imports against their name, or map those rows to Any staff. Nothing is written until you choose.
Can clients keep booking while I move?
Yes. Set up Mahi Time, import, then swap the booking link on switch day. Timely keeps working until you turn it off, so there is no gap.
How much does Mahi Time cost after the move?
NZ$109 (approx A$100) a month for two team members, NZ$21 (approx A$19) per extra. The import is free.