Add allowances use cases docs

connector-api/SUMMARY.md

@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 * [Use cases](use-cases/README.md)
   * ['How to' use cases](use-cases/how-to.md)
   * [Accounting](use-cases/accounting.md)
+  * [Allowances](use-cases/allowances.md)
   * [Customer loyalty](use-cases/loyalty.md)
   * [Customer management](use-cases/customer-management.md)
   * [Customer messaging](use-cases/messaging.md)

connector-api/use-cases/README.md

@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ Even if you are integrating a different type of system, it serves as a good star
 ## Business use cases
 
 * [Accounting](accounting.md)
+* [Allowances](allowances.md)
 * [Customer loyalty](loyalty.md)
 * [Customer management](customer-management.md)
 * [Events](events.md)

connector-api/use-cases/allowances.md

@@ -0,0 +1,177 @@
+# Allowances
+
+## Overview
+
+An Allowance is a packaged spending benefit that a Property attaches to a Rate, giving guests a defined amount they can redeem against specified on-property services — for example, food & beverage, spa, or minibar charges. Rather than discounting the room Rate, the Property adds value while protecting its Average Daily Rate (ADR).
+
+From an accounting perspective, the allowance represents a liability the Property assumes at activation: the Property has committed to absorbing qualifying charges on the guest's behalf, up to the specified amount. When an allowance is activated for a Reservation, the system posts an allowance product order item (a `ProductOrder` with `ProductType = Allowance`) to the guest's Bill. When a qualifying charge is subsequently posted — one whose Accounting Category matches the allowance's permitted consumption categories — the system automatically creates an `AllowanceDiscount` order item that offsets the charge up to the remaining allowance balance.
+
+Any unspent allowance is retained by the Property as additional revenue, which is known as Breakage.
+
+Integrations — such as point-of-sale (POS) systems, accounting systems, and kiosk or self-service applications — can use the **Mews Connector API** to:
+
+* post charges that are automatically offset against a guest's allowance
+* retrieve allowance-related order items for billing, reconciliation, and balance reporting
+
+## Key concepts
+
+There are several types of order item specific to allowances. Understanding these is essential for working with allowance data through the API.
+
+### Allowance-related order item types
+
+| Order item type | What it represents |
+| --- | --- |
+| `ProductOrder` (with `ProductType = Allowance`) | The allowance product — the liability posted to the guest's bill when the allowance is activated. |
+| `AllowanceDiscount` | A discount automatically applied to a qualifying charge, offsetting the charge up to the remaining allowance balance. |
+| `AllowanceBreakage` | Unspent allowance retained by the Property as revenue at checkout. See Breakage. |
+| `AllowanceContraBreakage` | The accounting contra entry for breakage, ensuring double-entry accounting integrity. |
+
+### Automatic discounting
+
+When a charge is posted to a guest who has an active allowance, and the charge's accounting category matches the allowance's permitted consumption categories, the system automatically creates an `AllowanceDiscount` item to offset the charge.
+
+{% hint style="info" %}
+No additional API call is needed to trigger the discount.
+{% endhint %}
+
+## Retrieving allowance-related order items
+
+Use [`Get all order items`](../operations/orderitems.md#get-all-order-items) to retrieve order items related to allowances.
+
+You can filter:
+
+* by reservation using `ServiceOrderIds`
+* by bill using `BillIds`
+* by time period using, for example, `CreatedUtc`, `UpdatedUtc`, or `ClosedUtc`
+* by item type using `Types`
+
+### "How to" use cases (retrieving items)
+
+| "How to" use case | API operations |
+| --- | --- |
+| How to get all order items for a reservation (including allowance items) | [`Get all order items`](../operations/orderitems.md#get-all-order-items) (use `ServiceOrderIds`) |
+| How to get allowance discount items | [`Get all order items`](../operations/orderitems.md#get-all-order-items) (use `Types` filter with `AllowanceDiscount`) |
+| How to get breakage items | [`Get all order items`](../operations/orderitems.md#get-all-order-items) (use `Types` filter with `AllowanceBreakage` and `AllowanceContraBreakage`) |
+| How to get all allowance-related items on a bill | [`Get all order items`](../operations/orderitems.md#get-all-order-items) (use `BillIds`) |
+| How to get allowance items over a period | [`Get all order items`](../operations/orderitems.md#get-all-order-items) (use `ClosedUtc` or `ConsumedUtc`) |
+
+## Identifying allowance products
+
+To identify whether an order item is an allowance product (as opposed to a regular product), check the item's `Data` field.
+
+An order item with:
+
+* `Data.Discriminator` set to `Product`, and
+* `Data.Product.ProductType` set to `Allowance`
+
+is an **allowance product** — the allowance amount itself, as opposed to a charge or discount.
+
+### "How to" use cases (identifying products)
+
+| "How to" use case | API operations |
+| --- | --- |
+| How to identify allowance product items among order items | [`Get all order items`](../operations/orderitems.md#get-all-order-items) (check `Data.Product.ProductType = Allowance`) |
+
+## Working with allowance discounts
+
+When you retrieve order items of type `AllowanceDiscount`, the item's `Data` field contains additional information that links the discount back to both:
+
+* the original charge
+* the allowance product that funded it
+
+Specifically, an [`Order item`](../operations/orderitems.md#order-item) with `Data.Discriminator` set to `AllowanceDiscount` will have:
+
+* `DiscountedOrderItemId` — the unique identifier of the original charge item that was discounted.
+* `AllowanceProductOrderItemId` — the unique identifier of the allowance product order item which consumed the item.
+
+You can use [`Get all order items`](../operations/orderitems.md#get-all-order-items) with the `OrderItemIds` filter to fetch the details of either:
+
+* the original charge, or
+* the allowance product.
+
+### "How to" use cases (discount links)
+
+| "How to" use case | API operations |
+| --- | --- |
+| How to find the original charge for an allowance discount | [`Get all order items`](../operations/orderitems.md#get-all-order-items) (use `OrderItemIds` with `DiscountedOrderItemId`) |
+| How to find which allowance funded a discount | [`Get all order items`](../operations/orderitems.md#get-all-order-items) (use `OrderItemIds` with `AllowanceProductOrderItemId`) |
+
+{% hint style="info" %}
+Discount amounts are negative. An `AllowanceDiscount` order item carries a negative `Amount`, which offsets the positive amount of the original charge on the guest's bill.
+{% endhint %}
+
+## Working with breakage and profits
+
+When a guest checks out or an allowance expires, the system generates profit-related items. The most common case is breakage, where unspent allowance is retained by the Property as revenue. In other accounting scenarios, the system may instead generate loss entries (`AllowanceLoss`, `AllowanceContraLoss`).
+
+An [`Order item`](../operations/orderitems.md#order-item) with `Data.Discriminator` set to `AllowanceProfits` will have:
+
+* `AllowanceProductOrderItemId` — the unique identifier of the allowance product whose amount was not fully consumed.
+* `AllowanceProfitType` — the type of profit entry, which can be one of:
+  * `AllowanceBreakage` — the profit from unspent allowance amount.
+  * `AllowanceContraBreakage` — the accounting balance entry for the breakage.
+  * `AllowanceLoss` — the loss from the allowance product.
+  * `AllowanceContraLoss` — the accounting balance entry for the loss.
+
+### "How to" use cases (breakage and profits)
+
+| "How to" use case | API operations |
+| --- | --- |
+| How to get breakage items for reconciliation | [`Get all order items`](../operations/orderitems.md#get-all-order-items) (use `Types` with `AllowanceBreakage` and `AllowanceContraBreakage`) |
+| How to find which allowance generated a breakage item | [`Get all order items`](../operations/orderitems.md#get-all-order-items) (use `OrderItemIds` with `AllowanceProductOrderItemId` from the breakage item's `Data`) |
+
+{% hint style="info" %}
+Breakage and contra-breakage always occur in pairs. For every `AllowanceBreakage` item, there is a corresponding `AllowanceContraBreakage` item to maintain double-entry accounting balance. Accounting integrations should expect and reconcile both.
+{% endhint %}
+
+## Posting charges against an allowance
+
+External systems such as POS integrations can post charges to a guest's profile using [`Add order`](../operations/orders.md#add-order).
+
+If the guest has an active allowance and the charge falls within the allowance's permitted consumption categories (matched by `AccountingCategoryId`), the system will automatically generate an `AllowanceDiscount` order item that offsets the charge — up to the remaining allowance balance.
+
+Both `ProductOrders` (for products already configured in Mews) and `Items` (for custom items not configured in Mews) are supported.
+
+In both cases, the `AccountingCategoryId` on the item determines whether the charge qualifies for allowance discounting.
+
+### Linking orders to reservations
+
+Specify parameter `LinkedReservationId` when using [`Add order`](../operations/orders.md#add-order) to link the order to the guest's reservation.
+
+This is especially important for allowances because it ensures the charge and the resulting allowance discount are associated with the correct reservation and its billing automation rules.
+
+### "How to" use cases (posting charges)
+
+| "How to" use case | API operations |
+| --- | --- |
+| How to post a charge that triggers an allowance discount | [`Add order`](../operations/orders.md#add-order) |
+| How to post a custom item against an allowance | [`Add order`](../operations/orders.md#add-order) (use `Items` with `AccountingCategoryId`) |
+| How to post an existing Mews product against an allowance | [`Add order`](../operations/orders.md#add-order) (use `ProductOrders`) |
+
+## Partial consumption
+
+If the charge amount exceeds the remaining allowance balance, the discount is applied only up to the remaining balance. The guest is responsible for the remainder.
+
+For example, if a guest has €30 remaining on their F&B allowance and a €45 dinner charge is posted, an `AllowanceDiscount` of €30 is created and the guest owes €15.
+
+## Charges that do not qualify
+
+If the posted item's accounting category is not in the allowance's permitted consumption list, no discount is generated.
+
+The charge is posted normally to the guest's bill.
+
+## Testing your integration
+
+Ensure you follow the general [`Usage guidelines`](../guidelines/README.md) for testing integrations.
+
+When testing an integration that works with allowances, verify the following scenarios:
+
+* Post a charge with an accounting category that matches the allowance's permitted consumption — confirm an `AllowanceDiscount` item is automatically created.
+* Post a charge with an accounting category that does not match — confirm no discount is created.
+* Post a charge that exceeds the remaining allowance balance — confirm the discount is capped at the remaining balance.
+* Post a charge of amount 0 — confirm no discount is created.
+* Retrieve order items for a reservation and confirm you can identify all allowance-related item types (`AllowanceDiscount`, `AllowanceBreakage`, `AllowanceContraBreakage`).
+* Confirm that breakage items are created after checkout when allowance amount remains unspent.
+* Reconcile the sum of allowance product amount, discount amounts, and breakage amounts — they should balance to zero.
+
+To cross-check allowance financial data, you can use the [Accounting Report](https://help.mews.com/s/article/accounting-report?language=en_US) and the [Bills and Invoices Report](https://help.mews.com/s/article/bills-and-invoices-report?language=en_US) in **Mews Operations**.

connector-api/use-cases/how-to.md

@@ -45,6 +45,23 @@ This page summarises all of our 'how to' use cases, together with the main use c
 | How to record an alternative external payment                   | [Add alternative payment](../operations/payments.md#add-alternative-payment)                                                           | [Kiosk](kiosk.md)                                                                   |
 | How to post end-of-day accounting items                         | [Add outlet bill](../operations/outletbills.md#add-outlet-bills)                                                                       | [Point of sale](point-of-sale.md)                                                   |
 
+## Allowances
+
+| <div style="width:350px">'How to' use case</div>                          | <div style="width:200px">API Operations</div>                                                                                                              | <div style="width:150px">Use cases</div> |
+| :------------------------------------------------------------------------ | :--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | :--------------------------------------- |
+| How to get all order items for a reservation (including allowance items)  | [`Get all order items`](../operations/orderitems.md#get-all-order-items) (use `ServiceOrderIds`)                                                           | [Allowances](allowances.md)              |
+| How to get allowance discount items                                       | [`Get all order items`](../operations/orderitems.md#get-all-order-items) (use `Types` with `AllowanceDiscount`)                                            | [Allowances](allowances.md)              |
+| How to get breakage items for reconciliation                              | [`Get all order items`](../operations/orderitems.md#get-all-order-items) (use `Types` with `AllowanceBreakage` and `AllowanceContraBreakage`)               | [Allowances](allowances.md)              |
+| How to get all allowance-related items on a bill                          | [`Get all order items`](../operations/orderitems.md#get-all-order-items) (use `BillIds`)                                                                   | [Allowances](allowances.md)              |
+| How to get allowance items over a period                                  | [`Get all order items`](../operations/orderitems.md#get-all-order-items) (use `ClosedUtc` or `ConsumedUtc`)                                                | [Allowances](allowances.md)              |
+| How to identify allowance product items among order items                 | [`Get all order items`](../operations/orderitems.md#get-all-order-items) (check `Data.Product.ProductType = Allowance`)                                    | [Allowances](allowances.md)              |
+| How to find the original charge for an allowance discount                 | [`Get all order items`](../operations/orderitems.md#get-all-order-items) (use `OrderItemIds` with `DiscountedOrderItemId`)                                 | [Allowances](allowances.md)              |
+| How to find which allowance funded a discount                             | [`Get all order items`](../operations/orderitems.md#get-all-order-items) (use `OrderItemIds` with `AllowanceProductOrderItemId`)                           | [Allowances](allowances.md)              |
+| How to find which allowance generated a breakage item                     | [`Get all order items`](../operations/orderitems.md#get-all-order-items) (use `OrderItemIds` with `AllowanceProductOrderItemId` from breakage item's `Data`) | [Allowances](allowances.md)            |
+| How to post a charge that triggers an allowance discount                  | [`Add order`](../operations/orders.md#add-order)                                                                                                           | [Allowances](allowances.md)              |
+| How to post a custom item against an allowance                            | [`Add order`](../operations/orders.md#add-order) (use `Items` with `AccountingCategoryId`)                                                                 | [Allowances](allowances.md)              |
+| How to post an existing Mews product against an allowance                 | [`Add order`](../operations/orders.md#add-order) (use `ProductOrders`)                                                                                     | [Allowances](allowances.md)              |
+
 ## Enterprises & Resources
 
 | <div style="width:350px">'How to' use case</div> | <div style="width:200px">API Operations</div>                                      | <div style="width:150px">Use cases</div>                                                |
@@ -141,7 +158,7 @@ This page summarises all of our 'how to' use cases, together with the main use c
 | How to add a product order item to a customer profile    | [Add order](../operations/orders.md#add-order)                                                                                             | [Events](events.md)                                                                                                                     |
 | How to add a product order to a guest profile            | [Add order](../operations/orders.md#add-order)                                                                                             | [Upsell](upsell.md)                                                                                                                     |
 | How to post a charge to a customer profile               | [Add order](../operations/orders.md#add-order)                                                                                             | [Point of sale](point-of-sale.md)                                                                                                       |
-| How to link an order to a reservation                    | [Add order](../operations/orders.md#add-order) (use `LinkedReservationId`)                                                                 | [Events](events.md), [Kiosk](kiosk.md), [Guest technology](guest-technology.md), [Upsell](upsell.md), [Point of sale](point-of-sale.md) |
+| How to link an order to a reservation                    | [Add order](../operations/orders.md#add-order) (use `LinkedReservationId`)                                                                 | [Events](events.md), [Kiosk](kiosk.md), [Guest technology](guest-technology.md), [Upsell](upsell.md), [Point of sale](point-of-sale.md), [Allowances](allowances.md) |
 
 ## Availability Blocks