5 Must-Have Features in a Kitchen Display System supplier

Speed and accuracy in a restaurant directly impact customer satisfaction and table turn times. A single delayed or messed-up order can sour a guest experience.

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• Customize your floor plan so hosts can see open tables and servers can manage sections easily.
• Look for flexible check-splitting and item grouping features to handle group bills and special requests.
• Ensure that changes made at the table are instantly updated across terminals.

Restaurants using KDS cut order errors by up to 90%. If accuracy and speed hold value, KDS integration with your POS is non-negotiable.

• An iPad Smart KDS display means no more missing or soggy paper tickets. Orders pop up in the kitchen instantly and stay until completed.
• Color-coded KDS can help cooks prioritize tasks, ensuring faster, hotter meals.
• In a busy operation, a KDS can split items by station and enable course-by-course firing.
• Many KDS setups track prep times per dish and cook. These insights can help decide on staffing and prep decisions.

With online ordering integration, orders from your website or mobile app flow directly into the POS and kitchen, just like dine-in tickets.

• 67% of consumers say they’d rather order directly from a restaurant’s app or website instead of third-party platforms.
• Integrated ordering syncs menus and item availability in real time, so 86’d items update instantly across platforms.
• If you partner with delivery marketplaces, look for integration tools that send those orders right to your POS.

75% of U.S. restaurants struggle with profit due to poor food cost control. With POS inventory tracking, you can sync ingredient use with sales, avoiding low stock issues.

• Restaurants doing weekly inventory checks for controlling stock can add 2%–5% to their bottom line.
• Set par levels for key items and get automatic low-stock alerts.
• Tracking inventory in the POS lets you compare theoretical inventory vs. actual counts to prevent employee theft, pilferage, and waste.

Reporting and analytics features turn the raw data of every transaction, order, and interaction into actionable insights. By using a good POS service, you should be able to access a wealth of information easily, at all times.

• AI POS analytics can break down which menu items are your stars (high profit, high popularity) and which are not (low profit, low popularity).
• See sales per labor hour, or which server sells the most desserts. Identify training opportunities or staffing adjustments from this data.
• Many systems (like AireusPOS Reporting & Analytics) even send automated daily summary emails or alerts if certain thresholds are met.

76% of restaurants have now added mobile pay, and 66% have added tap-to-pay to meet consumer demand for contactless payments.  A cash-only system will only leave you behind now, frustrating guests at the final step of their meal.

• Today, 50% of restaurant-goers expect contactless payment options for safety and speed.
• Ensure your POS hardware is EMV-compliant and that the software handles the chip card workflow smoothly.
• Your POS should handle split payments across multiple cards or cash easily.

90% of data breaches in the hospitality industry involve POS intrusions. If you can’t afford the loss and damages of a data breach, install a secure POS system.

• Ensure the POS and its payment component are PCI-compliant, meaning they meet strict standards for data security.
• Each staff member should log in with their PIN or card, so you can track who did what to prevent mistakes or theft.
• A good system provides automatic backups, preferably off-site/cloud backups for disaster recovery.
• Look for offline mode to protect transaction data if the internet ever drops.

With a user-specific ID through the POS, you can regulate your human resources for tighter control. The system can log hours and enforce schedules.

• Your POS can help track things like sales per server, average transaction values, upsell rates, etc., letting you reward high performers and coach those who need improvement.
• If you’re in a tipping environment, the POS should support tip declaration, pooling, etc., as needed.

In offline mode, credit card transactions can be authorized later. The POS securely stores card data and then submits it for authorization when back online, allowing guests to pay even if the internet is down.

• Multiple terminals or devices should be able to communicate over a local network. Your POS connectivity suite should include features like a local server or peer-to-peer syncing.
• Key data like menu, prices, and taxes should be stored on the device, so everything runs normally.  

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If you have more than one venue, a cloud POS with an enterprise manager console is invaluable.

• Cloud access lets you centrally manage everything and view reports between locations.
• Your cloud POS system should push software updates seamlessly, and usually during off-hours only. This is critical to avoid running into problems while dealing with customers.

Every restaurant has its own style and workflow that can evolve over time. That’s why customizability and scalability are key features in a POS system.  

• Your POS should allow deep customization of menu prompts, layout, and workflows.
• A good POS features a modular approach when it comes to tools, letting you use only the features that matter to you.
• Scalable POS software will let you replicate settings from one location to another, managing all locations under one login.

Even though it’s more of a service than a feature, it’s crucial to consider the customer support and training resources that your POS provides. Restaurants operate at all hours, and if something goes wrong, you need responsive support to get back on track quickly.

• Top POS providers maintain an online knowledge base with how-to articles and troubleshooting tips.
• The best vendors periodically check in, offer account reviews, and inform you of new features that might benefit you.

Not all kitchen display systems are made to provide the same range of functionality or support. As you determine the best ticketing system for your kitchen, it’s important to understand the basic and advanced features that may be valuable to your business. Here are some of the most basic functions you need in your KDS, plus the advanced features you can benefit from with a more advanced system like Fresh KDS.

How Does a Kitchen Display System Work?

A kitchen display system (KDS) replaces a paper ticket system in restaurants and commercial kitchens by receiving and displaying orders electronically. Typically a KDS connects to a point of sale (POS) system or online ordering platform to pull orders and organize them on screens placed in the kitchen. 

When an order is placed, it is automatically sent to the KDS, where it appears on designated screens for the kitchen staff to see. This setup allows each station in the kitchen to access the relevant parts of an order in real time, ensuring that food preparation is synchronized and efficient.

What Basic Features Do You Need in Your KDS?

When selecting a KDS for your business, there are several basic features that most systems offer. Here are some of the standard features of most kitchen display systems.

Real-Time Order Display: The KDS should instantly display orders as they are placed, allowing kitchen staff to see and start preparing items without delay.

Order Status Tracking: Real-time tracking and updating of order status helps kitchen staff and front-of-house employees monitor progress.

Order Management: Every KDS comes with a setup to organize and prioritize orders on the display screens. 

POS System Integration: Each KDS is designed to connect to at least one POS system, but not all kitchen display systems are able to connect to more than one ordering system.

Multiple Screen Support: Most kitchen display systems can display orders on multiple screens across different stations in the kitchen.

Reporting and Analytics: Basic reporting features to track order times, completion rates, and other metrics can help you see performance averages.

What Additional Features Should You Look for in a KDS?

Beyond the basic features, a more advanced kitchen display system can offer additional functionalities that further enhance your kitchen’s efficiency, communication, and overall operation. Here are some advanced features to look for:

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Ease of Use: It’s helpful to have a system that provides an intuitive and user-friendly interface that requires minimal training for kitchen staff to use effectively.

Multi-POS Integration: Some systems (like Fresh KDS) connect seamlessly with multiple POS systems so you can use the one of your choice.

Integration With Online Ordering Platforms: Additionally, you may want your KDS to connect with various online ordering systems to aggregate orders along with your in-house orders.

Multi-Screen Management: Not all systems allow you to customize order communication between screens to adjust how orders are shown or bumped to the next station, but this is a helpful feature for businesses that have multiple workstations.

Advanced Order Routing: You may also benefit from the ability to automatically route specific items to designated stations based on the type of dish, such as sending salads to the cold prep area and grilled items to the grill station.

Order Grouping and Coursing: Some systems allow grouping of items or coursing to simplify the ordering process and ensure the timely completion of related dishes.

Customization Options: You may want to choose the settings for order types, colors, sounds, and display themes to suit the specific workflow and visual preferences of your kitchen.

Detailed Reporting and Analytics: Advanced analytics that provide insights into kitchen performance, including order processing times, peak hours, and staff productivity, help you make data-driven decisions.

Customizable Workflows: The ability to create and customize workflows specific to your kitchen’s operations allow for the KDS to adapt to your processes, rather than the other way around.

User Permissions and Security: Some systems allow advanced user management features to set permissions and ensure only authorized staff can access specific functionalities or sensitive information.

Recipe Display: A KDS can break down orders into ingredient lists to provide clear communication and consistency in dish quality.

How Fresh KDS Features Benefit Your Business

Fresh KDS provides a comprehensive range of features designed to enhance kitchen efficiency, streamline operations, and improve overall customer satisfaction. Not only does Fresh KDS include all the crucial features listed above, but there are several key ways your business can benefit when you choose this system.

Integration Flexibility

Unlike some other systems, Fresh KDS supports both iPads and Android tablets, allowing you to use your existing devices and avoid additional hardware costs. This flexibility ensures a seamless transition and reduces the need for expensive new equipment.

Fresh KDS also works with most POS systems and many online ordering platforms. Plus, with Fresh, you can choose to utilize bump bars to simplify order management and reduce the need for touchscreens. Bump bars offer a durable and efficient way to manage orders for high-volume kitchens.

Order Control

Fresh KDS helps you gain more control over your order displays, including manual order arrangement and the ability to manually hold and release orders. The coursing options let you group order types together, while automatic timers help hold orders to support cleaner and more accurate screen layouts for your team—especially during rush hours.

Fresh lets you set custom pickup time thresholds to help your kitchen avoid delays and keep services running smoothly. Plus, you can set Fresh KDS to automatically flag for allergies when customers identify them on orders.

Team Communication

Fresh KDS provides features to help your kitchen team get on the same page as quickly and efficiently as possible. For example, you can set order alert sounds to differentiate between various types of orders as things come in. Similarly, the color-coded orders make it easier for your team to visually distinguish between different order types and timer statuses at a glance.

Not all orders take the same amount of time, so you can set custom timers for different order types to manage preparation times effectively. Your team can strikethrough items or entire orders as they finish preparing them. Use Fresh KDS settings to ensure orders are prepared correctly and within the expected timeframe.

Multi-Station Management

Do you have several stations in your kitchen that support different tasks? Use station pausing when one of these screens isn’t in use to temporarily pause a station during peak times or equipment maintenance.

You can also set up screens to easily bump orders to the next screen as they progress through the preparation stages from station to station. Or, you can set up your screens to all display the order progress at the same time. If your team has one person assigned to carry out orders, you can even dedicate a single screen to single out those orders from other types.

Customer Communication

Fresh KDS can help you provide a better customer experience by improving clarity around order progress. Set custom SMS alerts to automatically let customers know when their order is in progress or ready. This helps them get their food when it is the optimal temperature and freshness while reducing wait times.

Use Fresh KDS’s Customer-Facing Order Tracker to turn any TV or monitor into a customer-facing order status screen. This transparency keeps customers informed about their order status, reducing anxiety and improving their overall experience.

Ready to get started? Setting up Fresh KDS is easy and only takes about 10 minutes to set up. Start a free trial to test out these features and see how they benefit your business.

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