Guide to The Best Kitchen Display System for Your Restaurant

A Kitchen Display System (KDS) streamlines workflows, reduces errors, and boosts efficiency in any restaurant, from quick-serve to fine dining. Discover how a KDS benefits your operations and the key features to consider when choosing one.

In the fast-paced world of modern restaurants, chefs need all the help they can get to cook great food quickly and efficiently. That's where the Kitchen Display System comes in. This versatile kitchen aid device can help your chefs keep track of orders, quickly correct errors and view incoming orders in ways that benefit their working style. Whether you’re running a bustling quick-serve restaurant or managing a fine-dining establishment, a KDS can transform your kitchen into a well-organized and efficient workspace. Read on to learn more about this handy device and how it can benefit your restaurant business.

 

What is a Kitchen Display System?

A Kitchen Display System (KDS) is an interactive, digital device integrated with the restaurant's POS system that helps restaurant chefs manage incoming and outgoing orders, track progress and streamline the cooking process.

KDS screens are typically mounted on a wall in the kitchen area and display information such as items per order, order histories and even timers to keep track of how long a table's order has been waiting for. They can be used to completely eliminate the reliance on kitchen tickets, or can work harmoniously in tandem with kitchen tickets, too.

How Can a Kitchen Display System Help Chefs Cook Faster and Better?

Kitchen Display Systems genuinely offer incredible management tools so restaurant chefs can efficiently and quickly cook food. A right KDS can streamline the cooking process by consolidating orders, organizing them according to tables and providing cooks with valuable information such as time of order received, individual items per order and waiting time per order.

Kitchen staffs can quickly identify what needs to be cooked and in what order to meet guests’ expectations for timing and quality. Additionally, kitchen display systems are usually integrated with other restaurant techs such as a POS, self-service kiosks or food delivery platforms, making it easier for staff to keep track of orders regardless of whether they are placed on-premise or online.

 

Four Ways a KDS Can Improve Kitchen Efficiency

1. Customizable Order Views for a Seamless Workflow

A Kitchen Display System gives chefs the freedom to interact with their orders in a way that is comfortable and efficient. A decent kitchen display system should provide several different viewing modes, such as waiting time, category, table or chronological order which can be quickly switched between by kitchen staffs.

Furthermore, it allows them to assign colors to indicate how long orders have been left waiting, removing the need for cluttered paper tickets. This helps to streamline their workflow and ensure meals are served quickly with utmost quality.

 

 

2. Real-Time Communication Reduces Delays

A Kitchen Display System (KDS) enables restaurants to provide quick and accurate communication regarding orders from front of house ordering systems such as POS, mPOS, digital menu, QR code ordering and Self-Service Kiosks. This real-time connection ensures that orders are sent directly to the kitchen with no delay or risk of clutter due to paper tickets or broken printers.

 

3. Boost Kitchen Speed and Organization

Once your Kitchen Display System is set up just right, your kitchen becomes a highly organized space where chefs can focus solely on cooking. By clearly displaying tasks and prioritizing orders, it helps reduce prep and cooking times, ensuring faster service without compromising quality.

 

4. Data Insights to Refine Operations

A Kitchen Display System allows restaurant managers and chefs to keep track of valuable data like how long orders take to prep. Analyze this data to monitor staff efficiency or to identify bottlenecks, improve staff efficiency, and refine your menu by removing items that take too long to prepare.

 

Key Features to Look for in a Kitchen Display System

Track Orders Effectively in the Kitchen

• The Kitchen Display System (KDS) registers what time an order is entered

• The Kitchen Display System (KDS) registers what time an order is bumped

• Set a timer to change the color of an order if it hasn’t been bumped after a specified period of time

 

Switch Between View Modes On the Fly on the KDS

• Set orders to be sorted by waiting time in seconds

• Set orders to be sorted by category in seconds

• Set orders to be sorted by table in seconds

• Set orders to be sorted by chronological order in seconds

 

View Relevant Order Items Only

• Specify which kitchen department each Kitchen Display System is assigned to

• Only receive relevant order items to your kitchen department

• Assign multiple kitchen departments to a single display

 

Solve Errors Quickly

• Comprehensive order history for easy tracking

• Recall bumped items from order history to make amendments 

• Orders change color based on waiting time

• Prioritize orders that have been waiting too long