1. KDS Configuration and User Guide
  2. KDS Basics

1 KDS Basics

A Kitchen Display System (KDS) is an order device which communicates order information to a preparation area. Instead of orders printing on a kitchen printer, orders appear on monitors enabling kitchen staff to see what needs to be prepared. The main benefits of KDS are:

  • Improves communication between the kitchen, management, and the wait staff, increasing kitchen efficiency and improving operations through a paperless kitchen environment.

  • Provides a real-time view of restaurant operations with color statuses, timers, and capabilities to view details for each order.

  • Captures performance data for reporting and analysis.

KDS Controller

A KDS Controller is an application that runs as a Windows service on an on-premise service host. It is responsible for managing all of the business logic associated with the KDS. The KDS Controller moves data to and from KDS Displays, provides KDS Displays with their configuration information, and maintains detailed order activity in the kitchen. All updates to KDS Displays (changing a toolbar or bump bar button) are routed through the KDS Controller.

KDS Display

A KDS Display is a monitor that displays orders at the kichen. There are three types of KDS Displays; KDS Display Types contains more information.

KDS Toolbar and Bump Bar

KDS toolbar refers to the row of KDS function buttons that appears on the top or bottom of a KDS Display.

A KDS bump bar is a physical device attached to KDS Displays which enables KDS users to select and bump orders. You can also configure KDS bump bars to perform other functions.

Order Receipt

Order Receipts contains more information.

Supported KDS Client Devices

  • Restaurant Display Controller (RDC) running Microsoft Windows CE

  • RDC running Microsoft Windows 32-bit

Terminology

The following table describes common terms used in this guide.

Table 1-1 Terminology

Term Meaning

All Prep Done

The order is complete at all Prep Stations.

Bump

To remove an order from the KDS Display.

Prep Started

The kitchen staff have started preparing the order.

Prep Time

The time it takes to prepare the item.

Recall

To return a previously bumped order back to the KDS Display.

Suborder

A suborder is equivalent to a chit on a KDS Display. It is a breakdown of an order by the assigned KDS order devices and related options to help kitchen staff to prepare the menu items.