If your restaurant takes orders by hand, communicating with the kitchen by pinning orders to an order wheel, switching to a kitchen display system (KDS) is worth considering. While the cost to replace antiquated ordering methods with technology may seem high, the ROI with a KDS is high in terms of cost savings and customer satisfaction.
With a kitchen display system, restaurants can:
Streamline the ordering process. When a restaurant uses a kitchen display system, orders are either transmitted directly to the kitchen from customers’ tables using mobile devices or from a terminal on the restaurant floor. Transmitting orders directly streamlines the ordering process, eliminating the need for servers to bring paper order tickets to the kitchen. The process is also more efficient because orders are displayed on a terminal. Kitchen staff won’t waste time looking for paper order tickets or serve customers out of order.
Minimize order errors and waste. Keeping guests happy is an important part of generating repeat business. This occasionally means having to discard improperly prepared food as directed. This results in wasted food and money. With a KDS, your kitchen staff won’t have to struggle to read servers’ handwritten notes. They can simply consult the display to learn which items to prepare. This significantly decreases order preparation errors. It may eliminate mistakes altogether if orders are wirelessly delivered to the kitchen from mobile devices rather than keyed into a terminal.
Increase kitchen efficiencies. A KDS makes kitchens more efficient in several ways. Because orders are sent directly to chefs and prep areas, they help save time and decrease how long customers have to wait for their meals. Orders for drinks and appetizers can even be sent to the bar or prep area before customers are finished telling a server with a mobile device what they would like as a main course.
Additionally, a kitchen display system automatically routes different parts of orders to the appropriate preparation stations. Integration with the point of sale (POS) system lets kitchen staff see the sequence items should be prepared and whether orders are intended for takeout or delivery or will be served to diners in the restaurant.
Improve customers’ dining experience. For many consumers, dining out is about experience, not just a meal. A KDS allows restaurants to improve that experience. For instance, because a KDS helps speeds up ordering and food preparation processes, food arrives at customers’ tables sooner. And minimizing food preparation mistakes means customers receive what they ordered — the first time around. Both are key parts of providing great customer experiences.
In today’s competitive restaurant environment, you need every advantage you can find to provide the customer experiences, top-notch service, and exceptional meals your customers crave — and will return for again and again. A kitchen display system can help you reach those goals as well as run an efficient, profitable business.
