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

# Data Input

> Three ways to bring utility data into Nectar: connections, uploads, and manual entry.

<Tip>
  Need help in this area? See [Data Input FAQ](/platform/data-input/faq).
</Tip>

Nectar provides three ways to bring utility data into the platform. Each method is designed for a different use case, so you can choose the one that best fits your workflow — or combine all three.

<Tip>
  Hit a setup error or import issue? Start with [Data Input FAQ](/platform/data-input/faq).
</Tip>

<CardGroup cols={3}>
  <Card title="Connections" icon="plug" href="/platform/data-input/connections">
    Automatically sync bills from online utility portals on a recurring schedule.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Uploads" icon="cloud-arrow-up" href="/platform/data-input/uploads">
    Upload PDF or image utility bills for AI-powered data extraction.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Manual entry" icon="keyboard" href="/platform/data-input/manual-entry">
    Enter bill data directly when you don't have a digital document.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Choosing a method

| Method           | Best for                                                           | Automation level               |
| ---------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------ |
| **Connections**  | Ongoing bill collection from utility portals                       | Fully automated                |
| **Uploads**      | Bulk ingestion of historical bills or one-off documents            | Semi-automated (AI extraction) |
| **Manual entry** | One-off bills, corrections, or data that isn't available digitally | Manual                         |

You can use any combination of these methods across your portfolio. Bills created through any input method appear in the same unified [Data Inventory](/platform/data-inventory/bills).

### Additional input methods

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Email connections" icon="envelope" href="/platform/data-input/email-connections">
    Forward utility bills from email to a Nectar inbox for automatic processing.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Invitations" icon="paper-plane" href="/platform/data-input/invitations">
    Share a branded link with clients so they can connect their own utility accounts, or reconnect an existing one.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## FAQ

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="What file formats can I upload?">
    Nectar accepts **PDF**, **PNG**, **JPG**, **XLSX**, and **XLS** files. Each file should contain a single utility bill for the
    best extraction results.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How long does it take to process a bill?">
    Most bills are processed in **under 5 minutes**. Complex bills with many line items or poor scan
    quality may take slightly longer.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I connect any utility company?">
    Yes. Nectar uses URL-based matching to identify utility providers. If your provider isn't
    already in our system, our team builds new integrations within **5 business days** of your
    request.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>