AUTOMATED NIGHT AUDIT - Hotel Property … · AUTOMATED NIGHT AUDIT Close Day Process – MSI...

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AUTOMATED NIGHT AUDIT Close Day Process – MSI CloudPM v5.4 MSI Solutions www.msisolutions.com Abstract The hotel night audit is a daily review of guest account transactions recorded against Accounting Code (or Department Code) transactions. The routine helps guarantee the accuracy, reliability and thoroughness of front office accounting. The system process also closes one business day and starts another in the CloudPM software system. This new feature for CloudPM v5.4 is to automate this process based on local clock-time, where the Close Day processes in the CloudPM system run without intervention

Transcript of AUTOMATED NIGHT AUDIT - Hotel Property … · AUTOMATED NIGHT AUDIT Close Day Process – MSI...

AUTOMATED NIGHT AUDIT Close Day Process – MSI CloudPM v5.4

MSISolutionswww.msisolutions.com

AbstractThehotelnightauditisadailyreviewofguestaccounttransactionsrecordedagainstAccounting

Code(orDepartmentCode)transactions.Theroutinehelpsguaranteetheaccuracy,reliabilityandthoroughnessoffrontofficeaccounting.

ThesystemprocessalsoclosesonebusinessdayandstartsanotherintheCloudPMsoftware

system.ThisnewfeatureforCloudPMv5.4istoautomatethisprocessbasedonlocalclock-time,wheretheCloseDayprocessesintheCloudPMsystemrunwithoutintervention

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AutomatedCloseDay-SummaryThehotel night audit is a daily reviewof guest account transactions recorded against Accounting Code (orDepartmentCode)transactions.Theroutinehelpsguaranteetheaccuracy,reliabilityandthoroughnessoffrontofficeaccounting.ThesystemprocessalsoclosesonebusinessdayandstartsanotherintheCloudPMsoftwaresystem.ThisnewfeatureforCloudPMv5.4istoautomatethisprocessbasedonlocalclock-time,wheretheCloseDayprocessesintheCloudPMsystemrunwithoutintervention,unlesserrorsoccur.

A) FunctionTheautomatedprocesswillincludethefollowingfunctions;eachstepmayexperienceerrorsorfailures–somestepsrequireahalttheCloseDayprocess,whereotherswillrequirenotification(reporting)only:

DatabaseBackup–backupofpropertydatabaseatthecommencementoftheCloseDaystart.ThisisstartedwhentheCloseDaycommendisselectedduringamanualCloseDay/Audit.CheckforIn-HouseGueststhatareDUEOUT-Scheduleddepartureswillbeautomaticallyextendedforonebusinessday;ifpayingbycreditcardandauthorizationisrequired,thoseguestfolioswillauto-authorizefortheextradate.Notes:

o In-Houseguestsduetocheckoutwillbeauto-extendedby1dayonly,usingtherateusedonthelastnightoftheguest'stay

§ AuthorizationforCC-payingguestsauto-extendedwillbeauthorizedforthe1additionalnight

ShiftClosea. ClosebyShift–ifashiftisopen,systemwillauto-closethecurrentshiftb. ClosebyCashier–Itispossiblethatmultiplecashiershaveopenshifts;CloudPMwillneedto

closeallopencashiershifts

FailureMode:Interventionrequired(Critical);thisisafailurethatwillstoptheauditprocess,andwillrollbacktothepre-auditstate.PostRoom&Tax–Autopostroom,roomtax,packageitems,specialrequests,andapplicablesalestaxesAuthorizationIncreaseReport–Configurable;ifenabled–thereportmustidentifyguestsrequiringauthorizationstocoverthecurrentbusinessdate.Ifenabled,theauthorizationprocessforeachin-houseguestaccountpayingbycreditcardwillrunautomatically.FailureMode:Notification;LoginCloseDayActivityReport

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AuditPhases1. Phase1–RoomStatus/Maintenance/OccupancyTracking2. Phase2-FlagNo-ShowReservations3. Phase3-BuildDailyStatistics(Reports)4. Phase4-CheckinGroupMasters+Auto-ReleaseGroupBlocks5. Phase5-PurgeInterfaceevents;HouseAccounts,Cache,PMSEvents

Phase6–UpdateBusinessDate

AuditReportsNightAuditReportsarecreatedbasedonConfiguredNightAuditReportsinGMFunctions

SendCreditCardBatch–SettlementwillgeneratePre-SettlementReportbasedonbatchtotals,identifyexceptionsthatcouldnotbeprocessed,andtransmit/settlethebatch.

Note:TheBatchSettlementReportwillbeaddedtotheNightAuditReportswhenauto-settled

Generate(new)“CloseDayActivityReport”:

o AttheconclusionofallautomatedCloseDayevents,auserpromptshouldindicatethatthereportiscompetewithoptionstoview(inreportviewer)orPrint.

o TheCloseDayExceptionReportisavailabletoberetrievedforpast-dates.o ReportIncludes:

a) ListofShiftsAuto-Closed;ordenotesthatnoshiftswereopenatthetimeCloseDaystarts

b) Posted:Room,RoomTax,SpecialRequest,andPackagecharges;orlistexceptionsoferrorsexist.

>IncludeissueswithRatesorAmenityItemsc) DailyBackup–Completewithtechnicalwarningsornotificationsifthereareerrorsd) AuthorizationIncreaseReport–Listofguestsauthorizedduringwithindicatorof

success,decline,orfailuretoauthorizee) GuestsDueOut–Listingofguestaccounts/roomsauto-extendedf) CloseDayProcess–listonlyerrorsgeneratedbythesystemduringaudit,ifapplicableg) ReportExceptions–listanyexceptionsorerrorsrelatedtoreportcreatingifvalidation

canbeperformedoncompletedreportseth) CreditCardBatch–Denotestatusofbatch(es)attemptedtoSettle

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B) UserInterfaceChanges-Configuration

Configuration:GMFunctionsàPropertySettingsàConfigureNightAudit(SeeFigure1)NOTE:Theformer“AuditReportsSetup”pageisreplacedbyautilitywithexpandedfunction,andisre-titled“ConfigureNightAudit.”Thepage/utilitystillstillincludetheauditreportselectionandDay-Usecalculationoptions,andwillalsoincludesettingsforconfiguringtheautomatedCloseDayfunction,asnecessary.

TopSection• Toolbar

o Commands§ Save–Activewhenchangesaremadeonthescreen§ Cancel–Activewhenchangesaremade§ Refresh–Reloadspagetoshowlatestsaveddata

• NightAuditSettings–sectionheader• IncludeDay-UserRoomsinOccupancyStatistics• UseAutomaticCloseDay–Checkbox

.o SetCloseDayStartTime–StartTime(localtoproperty,adjustedfortimezonerecordedinGM

FunctionsàPropertySettingsàHotelInformation)§ Format=HH:MM:AM/PM–Fieldisrequired;CloudPMcannotsavetheUse

AutomaticCloseDaysettingswithoutthestarttimedataenteredandvalid.

o AuthorizationIncreaseReport–Selection:§ UseAuthorizationIncreasetocalculateadditionalauthorizationforin-houseaccounts

andautomaticallyobtainneededauthorization(Default:Checked=True)• AuthorizationsarecalculatedandautomaticallyobtainedwithoutPMSuser

interaction,usingcalculated&requestedauthorizations• UIdisplay-None

§ DonotautomaticallyauthorizecreditcardsduringCloseDayprocess.(AuthorizationIncreasereporting/authfunctionisbypassed)

o Due-OutGuests–PerFigure1,usersareinstructedthatdue-outguestsin-houseatthetimeofCloseDaywillbeauto-extendedbyonebusinessday.

§ Guestwillbeextended(sameroom)usingtheratelastused(lastnightofscheduledstay)

• Ifaweekly/monthlyrate,andtheguestisextendedbyonedaybutdoesnotqualifyfortheweekly/monthyrate,therateconfiguredfor“extradates”willbeused

• Ifnoextradayratesareconfiguredforthisscenario,thedefaultRACKratewillbeusedfortheauto-extendedstaynight

• Ifanyotherscenarioarisesthatcausesasituationwherenologicalratecanbeappliedtotheauto-extendednight,thePMSdefaultRACKratewillbeused

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o CreditCardBatch–BatchwillbecreatedandcheckedtomatchdailytotalsfromtheCPMDailyActivityReportforeachcardtype.Paymentsmustbecheckedtoensurethatsufficientauthorizationshavebeenobtained.Ifthiscriteriaismet,thebatchwillbeauto-settledwiththemerchantprocessor;SeeFigure1(Verbiage)

o Notifications–Link(icon)andexplanationisprovidedforconfiguringnotificationsforauditalertsand/orfailuresintheCloudPMMessagemanager;SeeFigure1

1. CloseDayFailureMessage:[PROPCODE]:CloudPMNightAuditcouldnotbecompletedusingtheautomatedCloseDayfeature.Task(s)notcompleted:--------Allthatapplyfromthebelowlistmaybeincluded---------

• ShiftClose• DatabaseBackup• Guestsdue-outarein-house• CloseDayPhaseXnotcompleted(X=anysubsetof1,2,3,4,5thatapplies)

2. Non-CriticalErrorNotification:[PROPCODE]:CloudPMNightAuditreportedthefollowingerror(s)duringtheautomatedCloseDayprocess;AttentionRequired:--------Allthatapplyfromthebelowlistmaybeincluded---------

• PostRoom&Tax:OneorMoreAccountscouldnotbeposted• AuthorizationIncreaseReportfailedtocomplete• NightAuditReportsfailedtocreateduringCloseDay

3. CreditCardBatchFailure:

--------Message–AllinstancesofBatchfailuretosend---------

"TheCreditCardBatchcouldnotbetransmittedduringCloseDay.PleaseusetheCloudPaySettlementutilitytofixanypossibleproblemsandtransmitusingtheSettlementutility."

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GMFunctionsàPropertySettingsàConfigureNightAuditCommandButtons:Save,Cancel,Refresh(Top/BottomToolbars)NOTE:Save/Cancelbuttonsonpagetoolbarsareenabledwhenanyeditorcontrolsarechangedinthesectionimmediatelybelowthetoolbar

Figure1

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BottomSection

NightAuditReportsSetupTheexistinggridfrompreviousCloudPMversionsforsettinguptheNightAuditReportSetwillcontinuetobeusedforconfiguringAuditReportpropertiesinCloudPMv5.4+FuturereleasesmayallowforadditionalconfigurationofNightAuditreportingparametersandproperties.

• Title=“NightAuditReportsSetup”

• Toolbaro Commands

§ Save–Activewhenchangesaremadeonthescreen§ Cancel–Activewhenchangesaremade§ Refresh–Reloadspagetoshowlatestsaveddata

• Grido Columns

§ IncludeinAuditReports–Checkboxcolumn,usedtoselectreportstobeincludedinarchivedreports;defaultselection–All

• Exception:DailyActivityReportandManagersReportaremarked“Included”andwillalwaysbeselected

§ ReportName–Columnisread-only,showingallpermanentNightAuditReports:

Figure2

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C) UserInterfaceChanges:CloseDayisIn-Progress&Post-AuditNotifications

CloudPMdoesnotpreventauserfromlogginginwhenCloseDayisin-progress,howeveranewshiftmaynotbeopeneduntilCloseDayiscomplete,whichpreventsanypostingactivityduringtheCloseDayfunction(asallShiftsmustbeclosedpriortostartingtheCloseDayfunction).Notification:UserattemptstoOpenShiftwhenCloseDayisin-progress

• Open/CloseShiftbyShiftNumber–TheOpenShiftcommandbuttonisdisabledwhentheAuditStatusisReadytoStartorwhenitisprocessing.OnceCloseDayiscomplete,theOpenShiftcommandisenabled.Figure3showsthattheOpenShiftcommandisdisabledfromthepointinwhichtheAuditStatusismovedto“ReadytoStart”throughthecompletionoftheCloseDayprocess.

Figure3

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• Open/CloseShiftbyCashier–Inadditiontomaintainingthebusinessrulesaroundnotopeningashift

duringauditasnotedintheprevioussection,atLoginauserisprompted(ifflaggedtodosoinShiftCloseSettings)toopenashiftiftheuserdoesnothaveaCashierShiftopen.IfauserattemptstoopenaCashiershiftduringtheCloseDayprocess,CloudPMwillrespondwithanotificationthatashiftcouldnotbeopened(Figure4).

Figure4

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Notification:CloseDayActivityLog(Post-Audit)andSuccessNotification• WhentheCloseDayprocessiscompleteasuccessnotificationmustdisplayif:

§ AnyWorkstationsareactivewiththeCloudPMUIrunning§ ForthefirstlogintoCloudPMattheconclusionofthenightaudit/CloseDayprocess

Thenotificationwillshowthatthebusinessdateassuccessfullyrolledoverandwillprovideanoptionshowshowthedetailofprocessescompleted.AnoptionwillexisttodisplaytheCloseDayActivityLog.SuccessNotification:AutomatedCloseDay:=>UseasNotification,notsystemprompt.LinktoReportfromthenotificationwithoutusingapop-up

Figure5

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Notification:CloseDayActivityLog(Post-Audit)andFailureNotification

• WhentheCloseDayprocessiscomplete,CloudPMwillproduceareportcalledtheCloseDayAuditLog.Thiswilldetailactivitycompletedandexceptions.Exceptionscouldbeminorthatdonotrequireuserintervention,butwillalsoincludecriticalfailuressuchasCloseDaynotbeingtobecompleted,oraCreditCardbatchthatfailedtotransmittoaprocessor.

• CloudPMwillneedtoalsoprovideaclearUIAlert(outsideofPMSnotificationsandtheemail/text

notificationsexplainedinsectionC)(Configuration)whenCloseDayfailstocomplete,andtheCloudPMsystemhasbeenunabletochangetothenextbusinessday,asthisimpactshoteloperations(Housekeeping,checkout,checkin,etc.).

CloseDayFailure–CloudPMAlertLogin–Post-CloseDaywithfailuretocompleteCloseDay–

o WhenaloginattemptismadeafteraCloseDayprocesshasfailed(failingtoadvancethebusinessdate),theuserwillbeshownapop-upmessageuponloginindicatingthatuserand/orinterventionisrequiredandthatthebusinessdatehasfailedtoadvance.

§ AnyWorkstationsareactivewiththeCloudPMUIrunningThepop-upwillindicatethefailureandprovideacommandbuttonthatwillopentheCloudDayActivityLog.Text: [SeeFigure6]

“TheCloseBusinessDayprocess(NightAudit)didnotcompleteforthepreviousdate.ThecurrentBusinessDateintheCloudPMsystemis[MM/DD/YYYY].

HousekeepingRoomStatusandRoom/Taxpostingmaynotbeupdated.OpentheCloseDayActivityLogfortroubleshooting.”

• TheCloudPMscreen(allviews)willhaveabandacrossthetopofthepage,movingtheCloudPMUIdownbytheheightoftheband,whichwillserveasanoticethatthecurrentdayisstillonthepreviousdate,whichisimportanttopropertystafftobeawarethatroomstatues(Housekeeping)maybeoutdated,andthatin-houseguestscheckingoutmayneedtohaveroomchargescheckedtoensurethatbalancesarecorrect,amongotherconsiderations.

• OnceCloseDayhasbeensuccessfulforthecurrentbusinessdate,theUIalertswillnolongerdisplay;

theCloudPMUIcomponentswillthenmaintaina“normal”appearance.[SeeFigure5]

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General:CloseDayFailureMode[SeeFigure6–CloudPMAuto-CloseDayFailureMode]FailureNotification:AutomatedCloseDay:

Figure6-CloudPMAuto-CloseDayFailureMode

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D) CloseDayActivityReportTheCloseDayActivityReportwillbegeneratedeachtimetheAuditisrunforsystemsflaggedtousetheAuto-CloseDayfeatures,includinganyinstancewhenCloseDayisrunmanually.

• TheselectioninPropertySettingstoactivatetheauto-closedayfeatureswillalsoactivatethisreport.• ReportwillbeincludedintheNightAuditReportSetautomaticallywhenasystemisutilizingAuto-

CloseDayfeatures.

Reportcontents

• Header: ToIncludedate/timestamp,Propertyname,PropertyCode,CloseDaymethod(Auto/Manual)

• ActivityLog: Reportssuccess/failureofAuditfunctions,listinganyexceptionsthatoccurduringthe

CloseDayprocess,andcriticalfailuresthatwouldhalttheCloseDayprocess:

Process:

CheckCurrentBusinessDate

VerfityAuditnotin-progress

AllShiftsClosed

NoDueOutGuestsExist

VerfiyPreviousAuditReportsarenotrunning

PostRoom&Tax

PostSpecialRequests

NoReportsfromPreviousAuditin-progress

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DatabaseBackup

Phase1 VerifyRoomStatusesarecorrect

SetDirtyRooms

ReturnMaintenanceRoomstoInventory

SetMaintenanceRoomsoutofInventory

Phase2 FlagNoShowReservations

Process/PostPackageCharges

Phase3 UpdateDailyAccountingActivityTables

UpdateDailyStatisticsTables

Phase4 Check-InGroupsarrivingnextbusinessday

ReleaseGroupBlocksasneeded

Phase5 PurgeAccountingCodessetfordeletion(notin-use)

PurgeAccountingGroupssetfordeletion

PurgeOldStayChangeLog;Changesolderthan90daysaredeletedifreservationischecked-out,cancelled,orno-show

Phase6 RebuildAvailabilityTables

PurgeCityLedgerAccounts(basedonsettings)

DeleteInterfaceprocessedevents

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DeletePMSevents

DeleteCRScacherecords

PurgeHouseAccounts

DeleteBWLookupTables

DeleteVPLookupTables

DeleteoldTass,Notificaitons,andGeneralMessages

CreatenewNotifications

PurgeBWCRSOverbookingTables

PurgeCRSMessageLog

UpdateBusinessDate

GenerateSelectedNightAuditReports

EmailReportssetforAuto-Email

BalanceCreditCardBatch–Failureresultinginnotification

TransmitCreditCardBatch-Failureresultinginnotification

GenerateCloudPaySettlmentReport-

[SeeFigures7-8–SampleCloseDayActivityLog]

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SampleReport: CloseDayActivityLog

Page1of2

Figure7

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SampleReport: CloseDayActivityLog(Continued)

Page2of2

Figure8

Icons: Success:

Warning:

Failure:

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E) RunningNightAuditManually–OverrideAutomatedCloseDayShouldtheneedarisetoruntheCloseBusinessDay/NightAuditfunctionmanually–priortothescheduled(automated)time,thisispermitted.

• TherearenorestrictiononclosingshiftswithorwithouttheAutoCloseDayfeatureenabled,permittingthisnecessarysteptobecompletedpriortoCloseDay,ifbeingrunmanually

• PostRoomandTaxisnotrestrictedfrombeingrunpriortotheCloseBusinessDayprocess;ifthisisrunmultipletimes,postingsareonlymadetoaccountsthathavenotbeenauto-postedforthecurrentbusinessdate

• IfausermanuallyselectsCloseBusinessDay,theDialogshowninFigure9woulddisplay.Thisinformstheuserthatauditwillberunmanuallyiftheyproceed(“Yes”),cancellingtheauto-schedulednightauditforthat(current)businessdate.

Figure9

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Security&Permissions:OverrideRunningaCloseBusinessDayprocessmanuallywillrequireuserrightswhenAutomaticCloseDayisconfigured.Auserthatisnotassignedrightstomanuallycloseabusinessdatewillrequireasecurityoverride.Ifasecurityoverrideisrequired(seesectionbelow,RunningCloseDaymanuallywhenCloudPMisconfiguredforautomatedNightAudit),theCloudPMuserwillbepromptedtoenteravaliduser/passwordofauserthatisgrantedthepermissiontoCloseBusinessDaymanually.

Figure10-CloseBusinessDaymanually-CloudPMOverrideprompt

RunningCloseDaymanuallywhenCloudPMisconfiguredforautomatedNightAuditAnewpermissionhasbeenaddedtoCloudPM[GMFunctionsàSecurity&PermissionsàSecurityRolesàPermissions]called“CloseDay–Manual,”whichischecked,permitstheuserorRoletorunaCloseBusinessDay(nightaudit)inCloudPMmanually,whichwillremovethescheduledautomatedCloseBusinessDayprocessforthebusinessdateclosedbyaManualaudit.(Figure11)

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Figure11

• This“permission”isuncheckedforallusersinitially• Aswillallpermissions,thepermissionmaybeassignedtoaSecurityRole(group)oruser.• Thepermissionwillappearasenabledonlywhenthe“UseAutomaticCloseDay”flagissetintheNight

AuditConfigurationinGMFunctionsàPropertySettingsàConfigureNightAudit.• IftheAutomaticCloseDayflagisnotset,thepermissionmaybehiddentouserswhenviewing

Permissions.