Kitchen display system (KDS)

A kitchen display system, or KDS, is a screen mounted in the kitchen that shows orders as soon as they are entered at the counter. Cooks read the order from the screen instead of from a paper slip. When an order is ready, it is marked done and leaves the screen.

Example

A fast food outlet in Gujranwala runs on paper slips. On a busy night, a slip for two zinger burgers falls behind the fryer. The customer waits, complains, and the outlet gives the meal free to calm him down. At Rs 650 per burger, that is Rs 1,300 lost. If it happens three times a week, the outlet loses Rs 3,900 a week, or about Rs 15,600 over four weeks, on orders it already took.

Why it matters

• Orders cannot be lost behind the fryer or misread.
• The kitchen sees orders in the sequence they were placed.
• The cashier does not have to walk to the kitchen to shout an order.
• What the kitchen cooks comes from the same entry as the bill.

How software handles it

A KDS only works when it is connected to the POS. In ArfaPOS, on the Growth and Business plans, orders from the counter, waiter tablets, QR table ordering and the ordering website all reach the kitchen screen. Each order shows a live timer for how long it has waited, cooks mark it ready, and a TV order status board can show customers what is being prepared and what is ready. You can read more on the kitchen display system page.