Being a restaurant operator is a demanding (but rewarding) job. On any given day here’s a non-exhaustive list of things your might find yourself doing: hiring new employees, training new staff members, placing food and supply orders, counting inventory, making floor plans, counting drawers, making bank runs, writing schedules, calling employees to cover shifts, managing vendors, calming down angry guests, washing dishes, cleaning the bathrooms… the list goes on and on. 

When it comes to adding new technology systems in your restaurant, you might be intimidated by the amount of time it takes to implement and train. The good news is modern restaurant tech, including tablet-based kitchen display systems, is getting easier and faster to set up. This means you can take advantage of all the operational benefits of the latest technology with minimal up-front time investment. Read on to learn more about how easy it is to try a new KDS in your restaurant. 

What is a Kitchen Display System?

A kitchen display system is a screen or set of screens in the kitchen or food prep area that shows orders that need to be made. A KDS often replaces printer paper tickets, handwritten orders, or verbally calling orders to the kitchen. Kitchen display systems help restaurants, food trucks, or coffee shops prepare orders faster and more accurately, which leads to happier customers and lower food cost. 

In addition to displaying items that need to be prepared, the best kitchen display systems offer a host of other features to help streamline your kitchen operations including:

• Color-coded headers to show when orders are taking too long
• Sound alerts notify the kitchen of new orders
• The ability for multiple screens in a kitchen to sync information to each other
• Customer-facing notifications when orders are in progress or ready
• Speed of service reporting and analytics

What Do You Need To Set Up a KDS?

Switching your kitchen display system — or getting started with one for the first time — is a fast and fairly painless process. To set up a kitchen display system, you’ll generally need a few things:

• The hardware you’re running the KDS software on. Depending on the KDS software you choose this could be an iPad, an Android tablet, or a TV monitor with a connected Android box and bump bar.
• A local network or internet connection. This also depends on the integration type; some kitchen display systems connect to the POS over the local network, while others require an internet connection to receive orders. 
• A KDS account for an integrated KDS provider. You’ll need to make sure the KDS software you choose is compatible with your POS, otherwise you won’t be able to get your POS orders to the KDS screens.

How Do You Set Up a Kitchen Display System?

Setting up a modern, tablet-based kitchen display system like Fresh KDS is straightforward and can usually be done in less than 10 minutes. It doesn’t require any advanced technical knowledge, just the ability to follow a few simple instructions! Here’s how:

Choose Your KDS

There are many KDS options on the market, and the first step is choosing the best one for your business. While evaluating your choices, make sure you pick a KDS that integrates with your point of sale. You’ll also want to pay attention to what operating system the KDS runs on (iOS, Android, Windows, or a combination) because that will determine what hardware you can use. Finally, you’ll want to consider the features of the KDS (like multi-screen management, station reporting, and order prioritization) to determine if they meet your restaurant’s needs.

Select Display Hardware

Next, you’ll need to acquire hardware to use as your KDS screens. Depending on the operating system of the KDS software, you may be able to re-use hardware you already own. Otherwise, you’ll need to buy new hardware. When choosing hardware consider the size of the screen you’ll want and if it will be exposed to heat, smoke, or grease. Look for hardware that is durable enough to last in your kitchen environment. Also, don’t forget stands or wall mounts to position your KDS screen where it will be most effective for your team. 

Connect to Your POS

Finally, once you’ve gotten the screens set up, you’ll finish by connecting your POS to the KDS. The steps for this will depend on the POS you use, but in most cases it’s a simple as connecting a printer or logging in to your POS account. Fresh KDS offers quick start guides to help you get started with the most popular POS systems.

How To Make Time for Your KDS Setup

As a busy restaurant owner you don’t have a lot of free time. Sometimes, getting started is the hardest part of introducing something new. Here are some tips for how to make time to get your KDS setup.

1. Schedule it before open or after close

Trying to configure a KDS during a shift is a recipe for disaster. Instead, set aside time either before you open or after you close so you have enough time to get it working while there are no customers waiting. 

2. Set a deadline

Put it on the calendar. Things that have a firm deadline are more likely to get done. If you are going to make the most of your free Fresh KDS trial, you’ll want to make sure you set your deadline within that time frame.

3. Delegate the responsibility

If you’re extremely busy you might want to delegate the set-up responsibility to someone else. Maybe you have an assistant kitchen manager who is tech savvy or a chef who loves the idea of a KDS. Making someone else in the business responsible for setting things up also helps get buy-in from the employees.

4. Focus on the outcome

Picture how your business will benefit and what your kitchen will be like after you’ve successfully set up your KDS. More efficient, fewer mistakes, happier customers. By imagining the outcome you can motivate yourself to find the time to get the set up done.

Set Up Fresh KDS To Save Time in the Long Run

The idea of setting up a new technology like Fresh KDS might be intimidating, but it’s something thousands of small business owners do every year. It only takes a few minutes, and the benefits from replacing paper tickets with a digital ticketing system will last forever. Try Fresh KDS for free today to start experiencing a kitchen optimized for efficiency.