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Kitchen Display System (KDS)

View and manage kitchen orders in real-time.

Overview​

The Kitchen Display System (KDS) replaces paper tickets with digital displays. Orders appear automatically when sent from POS, organized by station and priority.

Display Modes​

ModePurposeWho Uses
StationShows items for specific stationLine cooks
ExpoShows complete orders for assemblyExpeditor
All-DayRunning count of each itemPrep cook
PrepFuture prep itemsPrep team

Switching Modes​

Tap the mode selector in the top bar.

Understanding Tickets​

Each ticket shows:

ElementMeaning
Order #Unique order number
Table/NameDine-in table or customer name
TimeHow long since order received
ItemsFood items with modifiers
PriorityStar icon for rush orders
AllergyRed banner for allergy alerts

Ticket Colors (Time-Based)​

ColorTimeMeaning
Green0-8 minOn track
Yellow8-12 minGetting long
Orange12-15 minNeeds attention
Red15+ minOverdue

Stations​

Orders automatically route to the correct station:

StationItems
GrillSteaks, burgers, grilled meats
FryFried items, fries, wings
SautéPasta, sautéed dishes
SaladSalads, cold appetizers
DessertDesserts, pastries
ExpoFinal assembly, all items

Station View​

When in Station mode:

  • Only see your station's items
  • Complete items to clear from view
  • Items auto-route based on menu setup

Working with Orders​

Starting an Item​

  1. Tap the item to mark "In Progress"
  2. Item text becomes bold
  3. Kitchen knows you're working on it

Completing an Item​

  1. Tap completed item
  2. Item shows checkmark
  3. Removes from your station view

Completing Entire Order​

When all items ready:

  1. Tap "Bump" button
  2. Order moves to Expo (if not already there)
  3. Or clears completely if at Expo

Bump Bar Operations​

If your kitchen uses a physical bump bar:

KeyAction
BUMPComplete focused order
RECALLBring back bumped order
NEXTMove focus to next ticket
PREVMove focus to previous ticket
UP/DOWNNavigate items

Voice Bump​

Say: "Bump order [number]"

Example: "Bump order 42"

Expo View​

The expeditor station shows all items:

Responsibilities​

  • Track all orders for the table
  • Coordinate timing across stations
  • Quality check before sending
  • Call out ready orders

Features​

FeaturePurpose
Course trackingFire courses in order
Item statusSee what's ready vs. pending
Order groupingAll items for one table together
Runner assignmentMark who's running food

All-Day Count​

Shows running totals of items needed:

BURGER       ||| 3
STEAK MED    || 2
CAESAR SALAD |||| 4
FRIES        ||||||| 7

Use Cases​

  • Prep batches of items
  • Track inventory usage
  • Plan ahead for rushes

Priority & Special Orders​

Rush Orders​

Rush orders show:

  • Star icon
  • "RUSH" label
  • Appear at front of queue

VIP Orders​

VIP tables show:

  • Crown icon
  • Special attention needed

Allergy Alerts​

Allergy Orders

Allergy orders display a RED BANNER on the KDS. You must use clean equipment, clean surfaces, and verify with expo before sending any allergy-flagged item. Cross-contamination can be fatal.

Modifiers & Notes​

Each item shows its modifiers:

BURGER
  - Medium
  - No onions
  - Extra pickles
  NOTE: Birthday - write on plate

Reading Modifiers​

  • Included items: Listed normally
  • Removed items: Shows "No [item]"
  • Special requests: In NOTE section

Recall & Corrections​

Recalling a Bumped Order​

If order needs to come back:

  1. Tap "Recall" tab
  2. Find the order
  3. Tap to bring it back

Handling Voids​

If an item is voided:

  • Item flashes and disappears
  • Notification shows "VOID: [item]"
  • Stop preparing if possible

Handling Modifications​

If an item is modified after sending:

  • Item flashes with changes
  • New modifiers highlighted
  • "MODIFIED" label shows

Coursing​

For multi-course meals:

Course Display​

ORDER #42 - TABLE 5
═══════════════════
COURSE 1 (FIRED)
  Caesar Salad ✓
  Soup du Jour ✓
───────────────────
COURSE 2 (WAITING)
  Filet Mignon
  Lobster Tail
───────────────────
COURSE 3 (WAITING)
  Chocolate Cake

Firing Courses​

Courses fire when server triggers:

  1. "COURSE 2 FIRED" notification
  2. Items move to active prep
  3. Start preparing

Alerts & Notifications​

Sound Alerts​

SoundMeaning
ChimeNew order
Urgent beepRush order
AlarmOverdue ticket

Visual Alerts​

  • Flashing tickets: Need attention
  • Red background: Overdue
  • Blue flash: New order arrived

Performance Metrics​

KDS tracks:

MetricTarget
Ticket timeUnder 15 min
Bump rateItems per hour
Overdue %Under 5%

View metrics: Tap clock icon in top bar.

Troubleshooting​

Orders not appearing​

  1. Check internet connection
  2. Verify POS sent successfully
  3. Check station filter
  4. Restart KDS app

Items on wrong station​

  1. Item may need re-routing
  2. Contact manager to update menu routing
  3. Manually prepare if urgent

Display frozen​

  1. Check for connection
  2. Restart KDS app
  3. Use paper ticket backup

Tips for Kitchen Efficiency​

tip

Work tickets oldest-first by color: Green, then Yellow, then Orange, then Red. This prevents any single ticket from aging into the red zone.

  1. Communicate across stations - "Grill, how long on that steak?"
  2. Check modifiers carefully - Avoid remakes
  3. Bump promptly - Expo needs accurate info
  4. Call out allergies - Every time
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