Mobile App for Housekeeping Operations
We built a mobile app to streamline hotel housekeeping operations.
Client
The client has been running a chain of two- and three-star hotels for many years. He knows from experience that positive reviews don’t depend on room size or fancy equipment. The key to guest satisfaction is spotless rooms.
Over time, he adopted a hybrid housekeeping model: public areas were outsourced to cleaning companies, while guest rooms were handled by his own staff. Each housekeeper was responsible for about 15 rooms per day, with each hotel accommodating 300 to 400 rooms.
How do you fairly distribute workloads across staff? How do you track individual performance within a single property? What happens when you’re managing a dozen hotels across the country?
Challenges
For years, the client managed housekeeping operations using off-the-shelf desktop software. But these tools were little more than basic planners. They could print schedules and generate nominal reports for each employee, but offered no real automation. The result was frequent errors and recurring organizational issues that pulled focus away from business growth.
Realizing this approach wasn’t sustainable, the client began exploring custom development. He ran the numbers, calculating not just the cost of development but also the potential savings from optimization. The conclusion was clear. The investment would pay off quickly through reduced expenses. In 2022, he started looking for a development partner.
We quickly realized that the right approach was to use artificial intelligence, specifically computer vision (CV).
Computer Vision for Housekeeping
Recognizing images, classifying objects, and spotting defects or inconsistencies are typical computer vision tasks used in quality control. We apply these capabilities to real business workflows.
System Architecture
The client needed a mobile application to monitor housekeeping on-site. An Android version was sufficient and helped keep development costs down.
However, the mobile app was only part of the solution. To make the system fully functional, it had to be integrated with the hotel’s PMS (Property Management System) and a custom admin panel.
How Housekeeping Automation Works in the App
Task Assignment
– The app provides a daily task list with details for each cleaning zone, including assigned time and task type. A clear step-by-step workflow ensures nothing is missed.
– Push notifications alert staff to additional service requests in real time. Housekeepers can accept, decline, or reassign tasks to other team members.
Room Cleaning
– A housekeeper opens the task and selects a status: “In Progress” when working on it or “On Hold” if paused.
– There is also an “Out of Order” status with a comment field. Any reported issue is instantly sent to the shift supervisor. While the room is being cleaned, a maintenance technician can handle minor repairs on the spot. This saves time and improves service. Issues are resolved quickly without disturbing the guest twice.
Completion & Quality Check
– After finishing, the housekeeper takes a photo of the room and uploads it through the app. The server processes the image, compares it with the “gold standard,” and returns a match percentage. Any areas that do not meet the standard are highlighted in red. These areas must be corrected before the task is approved.
– Once the cleaning is complete, the housekeeper sets the status to “Completed” and logs the time spent. All results are displayed in the admin panel, enabling employee analytics, performance tracking, and process optimization.
Admin Panel
We developed the admin panel as a standalone module so housekeeping operations would not clutter the PMS for other users.
Through the admin panel, managers can:
– Assign tasks and designate responsible staff.
– Select the task type for each room.
– Receive real-time updates on task status and progress.
– View analytics and generate reports.
Training the Computer Vision Model
During development, we trained the model to evaluate the completeness of room cleaning.
For each room, we collected full-size photos from multiple angles, along with data on room category and typical tasks.
The dataset was then structured, cleaned, and used to train the model.
PMS Integration
We built an API to connect the app with the PMS. This allows housekeeping statuses to update automatically, showing which rooms are ready for check-in and which are still being cleaned.
The status also determines the type of cleaning required, for example light daily cleaning or a full deep clean after a guest checks out.
Technologies
Backend
C++
Android
Kotlin
Computer Vision
OpenCV
Result
- Automation enabled more efficient resource allocation and balanced staff workloads.
- Accurate planning and real-time monitoring improved both the quality and speed of room preparation.
- Guest loyalty increased as well. Consistently clean rooms led to higher ratings and more positive reviews, which helped attract new guests.
reduction in staff, equipment, and supply costs.
reduction in paper usage through digital document management.
What happens next:
Having received and processed your request, we will reach you shortly to detail your project needs.
After examining requirements, our analysts and developers devise a project proposal with the scope of works, team size, time and cost estimates.
We arrange a meeting with you to discuss the offer and come to an agreement.
We sign a contract and start working on your project as quickly as possible.