Kitchen display systems are a valuable tool in the commercial kitchen. They provide chefs with vital information about the status of food orders, which helps streamline restaurant operations and improve customer service.

Several kitchen display systems are available on the market today, so selecting one that meets your specific needs is vital. In this blog post, we will discuss what a kitchen display system is, how it works, and explore the benefits of KDS systems. We hope you find this information helpful!

What Is a Kitchen Display System?

A kitchen display system (KDS) is a digital order viewer that helps streamline restaurant order-taking and food preparation processes by displaying real-time information about orders. KDS systems typically consist of an ordering terminal, a software that runs on an on-premise or off-premise platform, and a large touchscreen display, where staff can view the orders and prepare them accordingly.

Do you know the difference between on premise vs off premise? Take a quick read.

The KDS system may also be integrated into other systems in the restaurant, such as the point of sale (POS) system and restaurant inventory management software.

While a KDS is not required for all restaurants, it can be particularly beneficial for those that experience high volumes of traffic that offer curbside pick up delivery or takeout services.

How Does a Kitchen Display System Work

A kitchen display system (KDS) is a digital solution that helps restaurants to manage their kitchens better. By restaurant POS integration, a KDS can provide real-time information about orders and help improve food preparation accuracy and efficiency.

Here’s a look at how a typical KDS system works:

1. When an order is placed at the POS system, it is automatically sent to the KDS.
2. The KDS system then routes the order to the appropriate kitchen station based on the type of dish being prepared. For instance, orders for that require a grill will likely be directed to the person working the grill station. Then, fried dishes may be sent to whoever is working at the stove.
3. Servers can easily access customer information and order details on the KDS and make changes to the order if necessary. This ensures that orders are prepared correctly and promptly.
4. Dishes are automatically prioritized based on time, and orders from multiple tables can be grouped to improve efficiency.
5. The kitchen display system keeps track of the progress of each order and alerts the staff when an order is ready to be served.
6. When the order is ready, it is marked as complete in the KDS system.
7. The KDS system prints out a ticket for the customer, which is then given to them when they collect their food.
8. After service is completed, reports can be generated from the KDS to help analyze performance and identify areas for improvement. For example, cooks may use the average cook time report to help them gauge how long it typically takes to prepare specific dishes.

The kitchen display system is an essential piece of equipment in any commercial kitchen as it helps improve operational efficiency and communication between staff members. It also allows chefs to focus on cooking by taking care of their paperwork.

Benefits of Kitchen Display Systems

Kitchen display systems offer significant benefits to restaurants and other businesses. These benefits include:

1. Meal Coursing

KDS helps streamline meal service by providing the executive chef with an overview of the dishes they must prepare for each table. This enables them to plan and prepare meals more efficiently, preventing service delays.

2. Menu Management

KDS makes it easy for restaurants to manage their menus and make changes on the fly. This is especially useful for seasonal or specialty items that may need to be added or removed from the menu regularly.

3. Accelerate Routing

KDS can help prevent service delays by routing orders to specific stations as they are received. This ensures that each dish is prepared on time and that meals are served at the same pace.

4. Estimate Cook Times

KDS provides chefs with an accurate estimate of cook times for each dish, allowing them to better plan and prepare meals. This helps prevent service delays and ensures that dishes are cooked to perfection.

5. Capacity Management

With a kitchen display system, you can see how many orders are in the system and how long each order has been cooking. This information helps you to manage your kitchen’s capacity better and avoid overloading your staff.

6. Centralized Information

A kitchen display system brings all your important information into one central location. This includes information such as recipes, order details, and cooking times. This feature makes it super simple for the restaurant staff to access all the information they need, at all times.

7. Efficiently Manage Time

Having all of your information in one place can more efficiently manage your kitchen’s time. This includes seeing which orders are taking longer than others and adjusting accordingly.

8. Improved Communication

Effective communication is key to any successful business, and that includes restaurants. With a KDS in place, your front of house (FOH) and back of house (BOH) staff can easily communicate to ensure that orders are being taken correctly and prepared according to the customer’s specifications. This improved communication leads to a smoother restaurant operation.

9. Improved Inventory Management

KDS helps restaurants track their inventory, leading to improved inventory management. This help reduces costs and ensures that restaurants have the supplies they need when they need them.

10. Recipe Management

With a kitchen display system, you can easily manage your recipes. This includes being able to add, edit, and delete recipes as needed. You can also create recipe categories to help organize your recipes.

11. Automated Alerts

Another benefit of a kitchen display system is that it can send automated alerts to your staff. This includes alerts for when an order is ready, ingredients are running low, or the restaurant equipment has a problem. This helps keep your staff informed and reduces the chances of mistakes.

12. More Accurate Orders

A kitchen display system allows your wait staff to place orders more accurately. This concept is fantastic, as customers will rarely receive the wrong order.

13. Detailed Reporting and Analytics

A good kitchen display system will provide detailed analytics that can help you to track your performance and identify areas for improvement. This information can be invaluable in helping you to run a more efficient and effective operation.

14. Integrated Ordering

A kitchen display system can be integrated with your POS system, making it easier for staff to place and track orders through the cooking process. This integration can make your operation more streamlined and efficient.

15. Faster Service

A kitchen display system speeds up service times by making it easier for staff to place and track orders. This leads to happier customers and increase restaurant sales.

16. Generate Less Paper Waste

A kitchen display system displays orders electronically on a screen, eliminating the need for printed tickets. This can save your business money on paper and printer ink costs and help reduce your environmental footprint.

Frequently Asked Questions About Kitchen Display System

The following are answers to some of the most common questions about kitchen display systems:

What Is a Kitchen Bump Bar?

A kitchen bump bar is a device that allows the operator to interact with the kitchen display system (KDS). It is typically used to “bump off” orders when they are ready, which sends a signal to the KDS telling it to remove the order from the screen.

What Is Kitchen Order Ticket?

A kitchen order ticket, also known as a KOT, is a document used to place an order with the kitchen staff in a restaurant. Each ticket will include all of the details about the dish the customer orders. Such details include things like the ingredients, cooking instructions, and any special requests from the customer.

KOTs are typically written by the wait staff and then given to the kitchen staff so they can begin preparing the meal. In some cases, KOTs may also be sent electronically to the kitchen via the POS system. Regardless of how they are transmitted, KOTs must be clear and concise, so there is no confusion about what needs to be done.

What Is BOT In Food and Beverage?

In the food and beverage industry, BOT stands for “beverage order ticket.” This document is what restaurants and other food service businesses use to take or record customer orders.

The BOT typically includes the customer’s name, the date and time of the order, the items ordered, and the total order cost. This information helps restaurant staff to keep track of customer orders and ensure that they are fulfilled correctly.