Kitchen display systems (KDS) are fast becoming an essential part of modern restaurants. One of the biggest barriers for kitchen owners and managers implementing these systems comes down to simply making the switch and getting started. We’ve found once people start using Fresh KDS, they rarely want to go back to a traditional ticketing process or less robust display system.

In this blog post, we'll cover the reason for using kitchen display systems, the quick wins you can expect, and how to save time as you introduce this new tool to your kitchen.

What Does a Quality KDS Do?

Not all KDSs are the same, though they do serve the same basic function. 

A KDS receives orders from a POS or online ordering system and displays these orders on screens in the kitchen. However, the requirements for the KDS, the features it offers, and the capabilities will all vary by brand. 

KDS Requirements

You want a KDS that will:

• Integrate easily with your POS
• Work with the iPads or Android tablets you prefer
• Offer flexible and scalable plans that don’t lock you in
• Provide an easy and fast setup experience
• Work in multiple languages (including Spanish and French)

KDS Features

You want a KDS that can:

• Adapt to the order types you offer
• Move, hold, and recall items with ease
• Send customer updates for pickup times
• Provide detailed reporting
• Allow your team to print tickets or labels for packing food

KDS Capabilities

You need a KDS that helps you:

• Set up multiple screens with your view of choice
• Work with a bump bar or touchscreen
• Customize sounds, layout, and timing for your team
• Troubleshoot if you run into an issue
• Explore new ideas and options with knowledge-base resources

Want to see a KDS in action? Watch this demo to discover what Fresh KDS can do.

History of Restaurant Kitchen Display Systems

Before electronic KDSs were developed, most restaurants used handwritten paper tickets to prepare orders. Servers or cashiers would write orders on a "chit" and pass it to the kitchen on a ticket spindle. 

Carbon copy paper allowed these handwritten orders to double as customer receipts for payment. The first major evolution of restaurant kitchen ticket systems was the introduction of electronic point-of-sale (POS) systems with printers in the 1970s. Printed tickets had one major advantage over handwritten tickets — the kitchen staff and line cooks no longer had to decipher bad handwriting.

he first virtual restaurant kitchen ticket system came to market in the late 1980s. These early digital ticket systems were very simplistic and expensive. It was the first time the front register could communicate automatically with the back of house.

In the 1990s and early 2000s, restaurant kitchen ticket system technology continued to evolve, with more advanced features like routing, color-coding, and ticket timers. These improvements helped kitchens operate more efficiently and prepare orders more accurately. However, bulky, expensive hardware and complicated setup limited the number of restaurants that could utilize a KDS.

Today, there are a number of lightweight, affordable kitchen display systems that are accessible to a larger number of restaurants and food operators, including coffee shops, cafes, and even food trucks. This technology has helped countless restaurants improve their operations and better serve their customers.

3 Quick Wins You Should Get From Your Kitchen Screen System

Why use a kitchen display system? Here are three ways your business can immediately benefit from a KDS.

Save Time

Your goal in using a KDS should be to help your team work faster and more efficiently. With a KDS, orders are sent directly to the kitchen, so there is no need to physically move or search for order tickets. Digital tickets can’t get dropped in the sauce or scattered on the floor by mistake. Pulling up an old ticket only takes a couple of taps on the screen. Streamlining order tickets should free up time for your cook, enabling your team to focus on making food.

Reduce Mistakes

Avoid comps by clarifying customer requests so your team can get orders right the first time. A KDS helps communicate order details clearly so your team can flow through the preparation process without stopping to re-read tickets. If someone makes a change at the POS, it will be reflected immediately on the KDS. Standardized tickets with real-time updates reduce mistakes and ensure that the customer gets the right order. 

Improve Communication

Help your team get on the same page instantly. A KDS clarifies order priority, station roles, and completed items so your team can work effectively during your busiest times. New orders and order edits are sent directly to the kitchen from the POS so there is no need for runners or servers to relay messages. Fresh KDS can also be set up to automatically communicate order statuses directly with customers via SMS or a customer-facing screen.

How To Get Started: Simplify and Speed up KDS Use for Your Team

You don’t want to waste time getting your digital process in place. A sluggish adoption process makes it hard to see the true impact of a KDS in your kitchen. 

Fresh makes it simple to get started. Our KDS is designed for restaurant owners — no tech wizards required! 

Here are four things you should do to kickstart the process and get the most out of your KDS.

1. Set a Start Date

You’re busy and most of us dread trying to figure out new technology. The key to a successful KDS experience? Don’t push off getting started. We’ll even give you a 1-week trial period to test out the system and see how it works for your business — that’s how much we believe in our product.

• Choose your hardware and mount your kitchen screens
• Pick a date and stick to it (ideally the next lower-traffic day)
• Create a Fresh account
• Read through the quick-start guide for your POS
• Set aside 15 minutes after closing or well before doors open to get it set up

2. Test Your System

Don’t rush the setup process or try to start using the KDS on real orders before you are comfortable with it. Give yourself time to test the system and ensure everything works smoothly. Run a test order to make sure the connection is working and the kitchen screen layout is correct.

Need help? Our team is here to make sure you get the support you need.

3. Train Your Staff

Give your staff some time to get comfortable with how orders are displayed, how they can edit orders from the screens, how to bump completed orders, and how to recall old orders. Providing your staff with a detailed run-through will make the transition easier for everyone.

4. Assess the Process

Give yourself a few checkpoints for reviewing your KDS use. Here is an example of how you can examine your team’s progress and get more out of your KDS:

• Pre-Setup Analysis: Before getting started, establish a baseline so you know how the KDS impacts your kitchen. Our customers love how Fresh KDS helps them with measurable improvements, like reducing wait times, improving order accuracy, and speeding up staff onboarding. Collect stats now so you can determine the return on investment (ROI) a KDS offers and how you can use it to get even more value.
• Day 1/2/3 Reviews: Go over your team’s initial feelings after the first few days of use. What went wrong? How was the KDS a help or a hindrance? You may find you need to adjust screen placement or change something with how the screens interact to ensure a streamlined process for your team.
• Week 1 Check-In: After a week of use, it’s time to consider additional customizations that may make the KDS a better fit for your team. How is the KDS impacting your team’s behavior? You can review Fresh knowledge base resources and articles on features to consider if there are additional settings that would make your setup even better.
• Month 1 Assessment: After the first month, the KDS should be a pretty normal part of the kitchen’s process. You can stop and assess if there are indicators from the KDS reports of bottlenecks or repeating issues that could be addressed to improve order times. Look at the outliers to see where guests might be experiencing unusual wait times that aren’t in line with your team’s goals.

Choosing the Right KDS for Maximum Impact

There are different types and brands of KDS on the market, so it's important to do your research to find the one that's right for your restaurant. When shopping for a KDS, there are a few things you should keep in mind. 

1. Map out your current kitchen workflows — the number of stations you have, what's prepared at each station, and how the stations need to communicate with each other.
2. Consider what order types you want to support and how different order types are handled in the kitchen (for example, do you have a single prep line for all orders or do you split dine-in orders from to-go orders). 
3. Evaluate the cost of the system. Make sure to include both software and hardware costs when determining the total cost. 
4. Check to see what type of support the KDS company provides and if it meets your needs. Some systems don’t have personalized support for users that run into issues.

At Fresh KDS, we are committed to making the best kitchen display system possible. From robust features to customizable settings, we understand that businesses don’t operate the same way. Our system works with your preferred kitchen screen and POS. 

If you are trying to choose a KDS or want to get a smarter KDS setup for your kitchen, we’d love to help. Watch our quick demo video or skip that and sign up for a free trial to experience the Fresh difference for yourself!