Dissociate Contacts from Companies via import

[BReese6]

Hi HubSpotters! Has anyone ever found a way to automatically dissociate contacts from a company through an import? For further context, we import contacts weekly into HubSpot from our company system. A contact is dissociated in our company system, so they do not show up on the export list to import. However, the contact will remain associated in HubSpot. I understand this might just have to be a manual process, but seeing if anyone with Operations Hub has some logic they've created. 

[karstenkoehler · Accepted solution]

Hi @BReese6,

You're correct, it's currently not possible to do this directly.

Other users have already requested this from the product team: https://community.hubspot.com/t5/HubSpot-Ideas/Bulk-remove-association/idc-p/829929#M150746

I'd recommend upvoting and commenting. The product team reviews these requests based on their popularity. You can also help others find the request more easily by accepting my reply as a solution. I'd appreciate it, too!

As far as workarounds go, the programmable use cases library doesn't feature this case just yet but it can be achieved using a custom code action in Operations Hub Professional and this endpoint.

Another user has tried this here which might help you and serve as a starting point: https://community.hubspot.com/t5/APIs-Integrations/Mass-Deleting-Contact-Company-Associations-via-Py...

Best regards!

[mangelet · Accepted solution]

Hey @BReese6 

Hey there! I see you're regularly updating contacts based on your company's system, especially when it comes to unlinking them. I have a few suggestions for you.

First off, constantly doing manual imports with files might not be the best idea. Instead, consider automating the sync between the two systems.

There are many ways to do this, but essentially, your company's system should generate an event to transfer to HubSpot.

Now, I know there's been talk about developing a Custom Code Action for these cases, but let me offer a simpler idea.

Instead of trying to remove an association, why not use a tag?

For example, we often add the tag "Ex-employee" to people who no longer work at a company.

While your situation may be different, you could create a tag like "Unlinked" or something that makes sense for your business.

Then, if you're still doing manual imports, just add that association from your import file.

Give this solution a try and remember - it's worth looking into other types of integrations with less manual intervention for tasks like these.

[karstenkoehler · Accepted solution]

Hi @BReese6,

Good news, while not through import, a dedicated feature is now in private beta. Since it's been shared publicly on LinkedIn, it can also be shared here. You can find this beta under Settings → Product updates → All → Manage Associations in Bulk. If you're not seeing it yet, you'll have to be patient for a bit longer.

---

Manage Associations in Bulk

What is it?

You can now remove outdated or incorrect associations in bulk from the index page. Select up to 10 records and quickly remove multiple associations at once to keep your CRM data accurate and reliable.

Why does it matter?

CRM record associations can quickly become outdated when contacts change companies, deals shift ownership, or data imports create incorrect relationships. Today, keeping associations current requires time-consuming workflows, developer support, or manual updates one by one. This creates inefficiencies that waste time and spread errors across records, making teams question whether their CRM data is trustworthy.

The new bulk association editor saves time and reduces errors by giving you a fast, straightforward way to inspect and remove incorrect associations in small batches. This helps ensure your CRM remains a reliable and high-quality source of truth for your team.

How does it work?

We're starting with the most urgent need: removing incorrect associations in bulk. Watch this Loom video to learn more.

1. Navigate to any index page
2. Select up to 10 records using the checkboxes
3. Click Manage Associations
4. Review the records' associations, organized by record type
5. Select the associations you want to remove
6. Click Dissociate to remove the selected associations in bulk

Who gets it?

This feature is available across all HubSpot products and subscription tiers.

---

Best regards!

[Probley]

Not on import, but via a workflow...

There's a new product update "New Workflow Actions for Associations" live on Dec, 6. 2024

Manage CRM record associations with workflows: Remove your record's association labels 

See also:

https://community.hubspot.com/t5/HubSpot-Ideas/Allow-bulk-editing-or-removal-of-associations-via-imp...

[BReese6]

Thank you both for the feedback! We are (thankfully!) in the process of creating a automatic sync between the two systems, but this has all been helpful to read through in the meantime. 

[mangelet · Accepted solution]

Hey @BReese6 

Hey there! I see you're regularly updating contacts based on your company's system, especially when it comes to unlinking them. I have a few suggestions for you.

First off, constantly doing manual imports with files might not be the best idea. Instead, consider automating the sync between the two systems.

There are many ways to do this, but essentially, your company's system should generate an event to transfer to HubSpot.

Now, I know there's been talk about developing a Custom Code Action for these cases, but let me offer a simpler idea.

Instead of trying to remove an association, why not use a tag?

For example, we often add the tag "Ex-employee" to people who no longer work at a company.

While your situation may be different, you could create a tag like "Unlinked" or something that makes sense for your business.

Then, if you're still doing manual imports, just add that association from your import file.

Give this solution a try and remember - it's worth looking into other types of integrations with less manual intervention for tasks like these.

[karstenkoehler · Accepted solution]

Hi @BReese6,

You're correct, it's currently not possible to do this directly.

Other users have already requested this from the product team: https://community.hubspot.com/t5/HubSpot-Ideas/Bulk-remove-association/idc-p/829929#M150746

I'd recommend upvoting and commenting. The product team reviews these requests based on their popularity. You can also help others find the request more easily by accepting my reply as a solution. I'd appreciate it, too!

As far as workarounds go, the programmable use cases library doesn't feature this case just yet but it can be achieved using a custom code action in Operations Hub Professional and this endpoint.

Another user has tried this here which might help you and serve as a starting point: https://community.hubspot.com/t5/APIs-Integrations/Mass-Deleting-Contact-Company-Associations-via-Py...

Best regards!