> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://kero.chat/help/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Manage custom contact fields

> Learn how to create, rename and delete custom contact fields in Kero, including fields created during contact imports.

Custom contact fields allow you to store additional information about your contacts beyond the standard fields provided by Kero.

For example, you might want to record a customer reference, membership number, appointment date or school campus.

These fields help you organise contact information and personalise messages using information relevant to your business.

## Understanding custom contact fields

Every contact in Kero has standard fields, including:

* **First Name**
* **Last Name**
* **Mobile Number**
* **Email Address**

You can create additional fields to store information specific to your business.

For example:

| Custom field | Example value |
| - | - |
| Customer Reference | CUST-1025 |
| School Campus | Stellenbosch |
| Membership Type | Gold |
| Appointment Date | 15 November 2026 |

Custom fields are configured at account level and can be used across the contacts in that Kero account.

> [!NOTE]
>
> Custom contact fields are separate from segments.
>
> Fields store information about a contact, while segments group contacts together for messaging.
>
> Updating a custom field does not automatically add or remove a contact from a segment.

## Create a custom contact field

You can create custom fields before adding contacts or importing contact information.

**1. Open Contact Columns**

From the Kero navigation menu, go to **Settings → Contact Columns**.

**2. Add a new field**

Use the available option to add a contact column.

**3. Enter the field name**

Give the field a clear, descriptive name.

For example:

* Customer Reference
* School Campus
* Membership Number
* Appointment Date

**4. Save the field**

Save your new contact column.

The field becomes available for storing additional information in your contact records.

> [!TIP]
>
> Choose field names that are easy to recognise when importing contacts or mapping message parameters.
>
> Consistent naming makes it easier to manage contact information across your account.

![Kero Contact Columns settings showing controls for managing custom contact fields](https://mintcdn.com/kerochat/R0iqvUI-S8MAHD0T/images/contacts/contacts-column-settings.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=R0iqvUI-S8MAHD0T\&q=85\&s=561edfa1a96f7f485529febb4ee0bdd6)

## Rename a custom contact field

If a field name is unclear or your business terminology changes, you can rename an existing custom field.

**1. Open Contact Columns**

Navigate to **Settings → Contact Columns**.

**2. Find the field**

Locate the custom contact field you want to rename.

**3. Edit the field name**

Use the field's edit control to change its name.

**4. Save your changes**

Save the updated field name.

> [!NOTE]
>
> If you use this field when preparing campaigns or mapping message parameters, review those mappings after renaming it to make sure they still reference the intended contact information.

## Delete a custom contact field

You can delete individual custom fields that are no longer needed.

**1. Open Contact Columns**

Navigate to **Settings → Contact Columns**.

**2. Select the field**

Find the custom contact field you want to remove.

**3. Delete the field**

Use the delete control associated with that field.

**4. Confirm the action**

Review any confirmation message and confirm the deletion if you want to proceed.

> [!WARNING]
>
> Before deleting a custom field, check whether it contains information you still need or is used when personalising messages.
>
> If you may need the information later, export the relevant contacts before deleting the field.

## Manage fields created during contact imports

When importing contacts from Excel or CSV files, Kero allows you to map spreadsheet columns to existing contact fields.

If a spreadsheet contains a column that does not match an existing Kero field, you can create a new custom field during the import.

For example, a spreadsheet column named `Customer Reference` can be mapped to `<create>` to create a corresponding custom contact field.

Fields created this way are managed in the same place as fields you create manually.

You can:

* View them under **Settings → Contact Columns**.
* Rename them if you want to use a different field name.
* Delete them if they are no longer required.

> [!TIP]
>
> Before importing a spreadsheet, review the column mappings carefully.
>
> Mapping a column to an existing field instead of creating a new one helps prevent unnecessary duplicate fields.

For more information, see [Import contacts from Excel](https://kero.chat/help/help/product/contacts-segments/import-contacts-from-excel).

## View and update custom field values

Once a custom field has been created, you can enter information for individual contacts.

**1. Open Contacts**

From the Kero navigation menu, select **Contacts**.

**2. Select a contact**

Find and open the contact whose information you want to update.

**3. Update the custom field**

Locate the custom field in the contact details panel and enter or change its value.

**4. Save the contact**

Click **Update** to save the changes.

Custom field values can also be populated when importing contacts from a spreadsheet.

## Use custom fields to personalise messages

Custom fields can provide recipient-specific information when sending personalised messages.

For example, a business might store a customer's membership type or appointment date and use that information in a message template.

When preparing a campaign, you can map template parameters to the corresponding contact fields.

> [!NOTE]
>
> Creating a custom field does not automatically insert its value into a message.
>
> The relevant message parameters must be configured and mapped when preparing your messaging workflow.

## Good practices for managing custom fields

* **Use meaningful names.** Make it clear what information each field contains.
* **Avoid duplicate fields.** Check whether a suitable field already exists before creating another.
* **Keep values consistent.** Use consistent formats for dates, references and other information.
* **Review fields before importing.** Make sure spreadsheet columns are mapped correctly.
* **Remove unused fields carefully.** Check whether the information is still needed before deleting a field.
* **Limit unnecessary personal information.** Store only information relevant to your business and messaging requirements.


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