Refactor helpers for better readability

**Description**
Currently api lacks proper import support.

**Proposed solution**
Add configurable import with sensible defaults.

**Priority**: Low/Medium

Start by locating the API import handling and the helpers mentioned in the title, then trace how configuration is currently read. Define the configurable import behavior and sensible defaults from the existing API flow; the work is done when imports support configuration without breaking the default behavior.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.