Front Desk Shift Management: Starting & Ending Shifts
Parent Hub: Front Desk Operations
Category: 🛎️ Daily Operations & Shift Management
Target Roles: Guest Service Representatives (GSR), General Managers (GM), System Administrators
Last Updated:
Overview
In HotelKey, starting a shift and assigning a cash drawer is required to unlock core front desk functionality and process property transactions. Properly opening and closing shifts ensures drawer balancing, accurate cash drop reconciliation, and seamless handover between staff members.
Starting a Shift Flow
PMS Navigation Path
Home > Dashboard > Start Shift
|
Step |
Action |
Platform Guidance & Operational Details |
|
Click the Start Shift button on the main Dashboard. |
Opens the primary New Shift initialization modal. |
|
Input the starting drawer balance under Starting Cash. |
Ensures accurate baseline cash accounting before initiating guest transactions. |
|
Click Start to confirm. |
The modal closes, and the Dashboard button updates from Start Shift to End Shift. |
📷 Start Shift Video Tutorial
Dashboard overview highlighting the 'Start Shift' button and the 'New Shift' starting cash input modal.
Ending a Shift User Flow
System Navigation Path
Home > Dashboard > End Shift
⚠️ Mandatory Requirement: Users must complete the End Shift process prior to logging out of the system.
|
Step |
Action |
Platform Guidance & Operational Details |
|
Click End Shift on the Dashboard. |
Launches the End Shift cash balancing modal. |
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On the Cash Drops tab, enter Drop Amount - CASH and Drop Amount - CHECK. |
Reconciles drawer totals; click Next to proceed. |
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Click Next to navigate to the final shift close pre-checks. |
Button text updates from Drop Cash to End Shift. |
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Verify pre-checks are complete, then click End Shift. |
Formally closes the shift and logs drawer balances. |
|
Click End Shift or End Shift and Logout. |
End Shift will keep the user logged into the PMS. |
📷 End Shift Video Tutorial
End Shift modal sequence showing the Cash Drops entry tab and final Pre-Check confirmation screen.
UI Visibility & Access Control
Role templates govern access to shift controls across the interface:
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Guest Service Representatives (GSR) & General Managers (GM): Provided direct access to the Start Shift / End Shift action buttons on the Dashboard tab.
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Housekeeping & Maintenance Teams: Excluded from Web Front Desk operational tabs and shift controls.
Night Audit Automated Closeout Notice
If an active shift is not manually ended before a user logs out, the system automatically drops total cash and check payments collected during that shift and closes out the drawer when the Night Audit process is executed.
Following automated audit closeouts, staff must start a new shift and assign a drawer to regain system access.