Beginner web dev meets computer illiterate client

I am a beginner web developer, very little experience. I have a client that is a great expert in his field, but very computer illiterate. The website is small: small db, python back-end. Problem I am facing, I can't figure out how to make database updates easy for him. My first attempt at this was such that I made a basic db management app using framework's built-in tools. It allowed:

• find/edit/delete entries;
• was in the form of excel-looking tables with "edit" buttons. It was not fancy, but clean and my friends and family tested it and said it was fine (objectivity is arguable, I know).

This turned out to be too hard for the client. I am now revamping the site a bit to make it simpler, which would require far less maintenance (or so is the plan): the view will be table with entries rendered from the db that look very similar to forms that he faxes to his clients. No mobile support anymore... He stores his product db in Excel (small: 600+ entries). Some thoughts:

• I could write a python script on the server that would take a csv file and parse it and then import the new stuff. With 600 entries the load will be small and libraries are easy. But that would require the client to (1) Export CSV correctly (2) maintain the file in Excel in the parseable way (correct number of fields, etc).

• I could write a preprocessor script that the client could run on his PC and which would test the csv before uploading. This will reduce of screw ups on the server, but actually does not solve the problem.

I would really appreciate some advice on the matter. I am a comp-sci student, but very much a novice in actual web development.