For most restaurants, the days of orders written on bits of paper are long gone. Waiting staff don’t spend valuable time jotting down meal lists and dashing to the kitchen after every other order.
A KDS (Kitchen Display Screen) pushes the hospitality industry to the next rung of the technological ladder by creating a quicker, more flexible mode of communication between bar and kitchen. Modifying orders in visibly more apparent ways, decluttering the kitchen, and speeding up order times, the KDS has proven a game changer for anyone working in the food service industry.
What can a kitchen display screen do?
Kitchen display screens (or systems) perform all of the functions that kitchen printers do, but they expand on those functions, bringing much greater convenience to everyone involved.
By its size, a KDS allows kitchen staff to remain up to date without having to leave their stations. The KDS shows orders in progress, colour-coded by urgency, with new orders coming in so that staff can be prepared for when the next task begins or prioritise dishes that take a little longer to cook.
Restaurants, cafes, pubs and bars often wall-mount a KDS in their kitchens or find a high shelf to place it on in a stand. The Epos Now KDS, for example, provides a sizable 21.5” display, so you can easily track orders from start to finish with a screen of that size.
The kitchen printer removed the need for that frantic walk between bar and kitchen by connecting the EPOS taking the orders to a printer relaying meal information. But these come with problems. Many businesses note there can be delays in printing and that changes in orders often lead to much greater confusion or even kitchen staff failing to notice when orders come through.
A good KDS also has audio alert settings that ensure the notification volume matches the surroundings' requirements. This allows any staff that have gone out of sight or with their attention fully on their current task to register a new order or possible order amendment.
When you compare kitchen printers and KDS’ directly, the improvements the KDS makes on the kitchen printer seem very clear.
Kitchen printers:
Create a direct connection between front-of-house and back-of-house with a printed ticket for each communication
Specific requirements can be typed in as notes, and amendments can be printed out as an extra ticket
Different order types can be directed to different order printers
A beeping sound that can be switched on or off
Tickets have timestamps so staff and customers can confirm when an order was made
Kitchen display screens:
A direct connection between front-of-house and back-of-house with an updatable, electronic card for each order
Specific requirements and order changes can be added and amended to existing cards which flash when updated
Different order types can be directed to different screens
Adjustable audio settings so that notification sounds can be made loud enough for chefs, and quiet enough not to disturb the restaurant
Cards change colour from orange then red when the dishes are due, then turn green when the dish is complete
Bringing more straightforward communications to more complex times
It’s only possible to appreciate the potential of the KDS by going into specifics of the settings and how they resolve contemporary problems faced by the hospitality industry.
Restaurants, bars, and cafes have become increasingly complex, especially with mobile ordering options like Deliveroo. It’s still easy for the small print, smudging and confused tickets to lead to errors.
The KDS simplifies this side of the process, removing the fragile printing paper from the equation. Instead, order and font size options provide the flexibility to make all orders visible on screen, with order age becoming easily recognisable through the colour-changing alerts as time passes.
The KDS allows multiple stations to coordinate to streamline more complex catering operations. Desert, starter or any other kitchen station can see only the orders relevant to their role, notifying each other through the screen when their side of the order is complete.
Visibility is crucial for all staff, and a good KDS has display options that ensure orders can be read in any environment. To continue using Epos Now’s KDS as an example, a classic blue and white colour combination can turn into a dark theme or a light theme to ensure perfect readability at all times.
An end to errors
The kitchen printer removed the need for that frantic walk between bar and kitchen by connecting the EPOS taking the orders to a printer relaying meal information. But these come with problems. Many businesses note there can be delays in printing and that changes in orders often lead to much greater confusion. Kitchens using KDS devices experience fewer order errors and quicker turnover times.
Not only do wait times put constant pressure on back-of-house teams, but customers often amend or even cancel orders and expect the business to be able to keep up. This is where the KDS sets itself apart from the order printer.
In a busy kitchen environment, order printers release an additional ticket whenever customers cancel or amend their order. Kitchen staff must combine both tickets to complete (or disregard) the order correctly. Any chef that doesn’t spot the matching order number, or cannot see the first ticket, might also duplicate the order.
A KDS will notify kitchen staff of an amended order by audio alert and a flashing display, leaving no ambiguity about what has changed. The noise prompts staff to immediately correct the order. Combined with an instant flashing notification, changes to orders become hard to miss, saving businesses large amounts of money through reduced wastage.
Improved efficiency it’s hard to turn down
Savings in printer paper, food wastage and staff time alone make KDS technology an excellent investment that helps build a quicker and more reliable kitchen.
As the hospitality industry continues to evolve and adapt to new demands, technologies and customer expectations, the kitchen display screen will likely become a common sight in businesses across the country and beyond.