Maid Codes
Many Property Management System (PMS) protocols allow the PBX (or voice mail system) to send maid status information to the PMS for each guest room. Generally, the maid will dial a specific code sequence into the room phone to indicate if the room is clean, dirty, in the process of being cleaned, and so forth. This code is then passed on to the PMS.
The meaning of each code may be customizable on the PMS, and therefore must be customizable on the 7.00 as well. Likewise for the PBX. The Maid Codes dialog below is used to create a mapping between the code dialed by the cleaning staff and the meaning assigned to that code.
A table of default maid code values for various protocols can be found on the page discussing the Set Maid Status room function.
The 7.00 provides a method for the maid to dial room status codes by logging into the guest mailbox (as if to review messages) and then dialing the code 61n from the subscriber main menu (where n is a digit from 0-9, as defined in the table shown in the figure below).
If integrating with certain PBX systems, such as the Avaya ACM, the system also supports receiving the maid status from the PBX and then passing it on to the PMS; what the maid dials in that case depends on the PBX configuration.
Valid codes
In practice, the cleaning staff must dial a sequence of DTMF digits to signify the room status; however, the actual room status is indicated by a single digit between 0 and 9. The Valid codes table, shown above, is used to indicate which digits are valid, which can be dialed using the room phone, and what text to use when 7.00 needs to display the room clean status in a human-readable format.
| Column | Description |
|---|---|
| VMS Digit | A single-digit number, 0-9, dialed by the housekeeping staff as the third digit in the 61n or 63n codes that can be dialed from the guest subscriber menu. This is also the value that the system stores and uses internally.If the checkbox is checked, the code can be dialed by the housekeeping staff from the guest mailbox (by dialing 61 or 63 followed by this digit; the 63 codes prompt for a maid ID as well).If the checkbox is not checked, the code may be sent via InnDesk, but can not be dialed from the guest mailbox subscriber menu. This is useful for codes that can only be applied by a supervisor or administrator. In either case, you will need to enter the Display Text as well or the code will not be valid at all. |
| PBX Code | Enter the code sent by the PBX for the given maid status. This is typically a 1- or 2-digit number but for some protocols it may be a 1- or 2-letter code. |
| PMS Code | Enter the code expected by the PMS for the given maid status. This is typically a 1- or 2-digit number but for some protocols it may be a 1- or 2-letter code. |
| Display Text | A brief descriptive word or phrase identifying the meaning of the given maid code (such as, Clean, Dirty, etc.). This text is displayed in InnDesk both to indicate the current room clean status as well as when listing the available options for changing the status. If this field is blank, the associated code is considered invalid. |
| Load default values | Use this combo box to select a protocol and the click one of the two reset buttons to load the default maid code values as defined by that protocol's specification. |
| Reset PBX | Select a protocol from the Load default values box and then click this button to load the default maid codes for the protocol into the PBX Code column. No other columns will be affected. |
| Reset PMS | Select a protocol from the Load default values box and then click this button to load the default maid codes for the protocol into the PMS Code column. This will also load default descriptions into the Display Text column. |
Automation
In most cases, it is desirable for the maid status of a room to change automatically each night to a status that indicates it needs to be cleaned; this may also be desirable whenever a guest checks out.
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| On check-out, set to | Select the maid code to auto-assign whenever the guest mailbox is checked out. If the Notify PMS box is checked, a maid status update will be sent to the PMS as well. If the PMS already automatically updates the maid status itself, then leave this box unchecked. If you do not want the maid status to be auto-changed by the 7.00 at all, select the –no change– option. |
| Every night, set to | Select the maid code to auto-assign every night during maintenance (for occupied rooms only). If the Notify PMS box is checked, a maid status update will be sent to the PMS as well. If the PMS already automatically updates the maid status itself, then leave this box unchecked. If you do not want the maid status to be auto-changed by the 7.00 at all, select the –no change– option. |