Kitchen Display System (KDS)

The Kitchen Display System (KDS) is the digital system where orders sent by waiters via POS are displayed in real time in the kitchen. Screen-based operation instead of paper tickets prevents order loss, shortens preparation times and strengthens communication between the kitchen and the dining area.

Order Flow

The order flow begins the moment the waiter presses the send button on the POS screen. The order appears instantly on the kitchen display and an audible alert is given. Each order card displays the table number, waiter name, ordered items, quantities, special notes and the timestamp of when the order was received. Cards are arranged chronologically from left to right with the newest order appearing on the far right.

Four Order Statuses

Four order statuses are distinguished by colour codes:

New orders: Displayed in white, indicating preparation has not yet started.
In preparation: Displayed in yellow, the chef switches to this status when they begin working on the order.
Ready: Displayed in green, indicating the dish is ready for service.
Delivered: Displayed in grey, indicating the waiter has taken the dish to the table.

Ready Button

The ready button is pressed by the chef on the order card to indicate that the order has been prepared. At this moment, an alert appears on the waiter's POS screen or notification device and the waiter heads to the kitchen to collect the dish. The ready button also records the preparation time and is used in performance reports.

Order Prioritisation

With the order prioritisation feature, urgent orders or orders for VIP tables can be highlighted on screen. The chef can change the order of cards using drag and drop. The system automatically alerts for delayed orders; orders exceeding a certain time threshold flash in red to attract attention.

Station-Based Filtering

Station-based filtering ensures that each station in a large kitchen sees only the orders relevant to it. The cold kitchen display shows only salads and appetisers, the hot kitchen display shows main courses and the bar display shows beverages. This filtering works automatically based on station assignments of menu items.

KDS Performance Reports

KDS performance reports include metrics such as average preparation time, slowest prepared items, hourly order volume and station-level efficiency. This data provides valuable insights for improving kitchen operations.