What is a Kitchen Display System?
A Kitchen Display System (KDS) is a screen mounted in the kitchen that shows incoming orders in real time. Instead of printing a paper ticket for each order, the order appears on screen the moment it's placed. Kitchen staff see all current orders at once, can see how long each order has been waiting, and mark orders complete with a button press or bump bar.
KDS eliminates paper waste, removes the delay between order placement and kitchen awareness, and gives kitchen managers a live view of throughput — without the noise and cost of thermal printers running continuously.
KDS vs paper kitchen printer
Paper printer tickets
- Print immediately on order — no delay control
- Physical tickets get lost, wet, or torn
- No visibility of how long an order has been waiting
- Ink and paper consumable cost
- Printer jams disrupt service
- No aggregated view of all current orders
- Paper waste
Kitchen Display System
- Timed display — orders appear when needed
- No physical media to lose or damage
- Colour-coded order age — amber and red alerts for waiting
- No consumable cost after hardware purchase
- No mechanical failure risk
- All orders visible simultaneously on one screen
- Zero paper waste
How orders flow to the KDS
Order placed
Customer orders online, via phone (CallerID), or by scanning a table QR code. All channels route to the same order management system.
Order appears on KDS
The order displays immediately on the kitchen screen with the order number, items, any special instructions, and the channel source (online / phone / table).
Colour-coded timing
Orders turn amber after a configurable number of minutes, and red when they've exceeded the target preparation time. Kitchen managers can see at a glance which orders need attention.
Bump when complete
When an order is ready, kitchen staff press the bump bar or on-screen button. The order is marked complete and removed from the active display. Completion time is recorded automatically.
Customer notified
When the order is bumped, the customer receives a collection notification automatically — useful for pre-order or collection workflows.
Hardware requirements
| Component | Requirement | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| PC or mini-PC | Any Windows PC — mini-PC recommended for kitchen mounting | £100–£150 |
| Monitor | Any HDMI monitor — 21"+ recommended; IP-rated for kitchen environments | £80–£200 |
| Bump bar (optional) | Physical button bar for hands-free order completion | £40–£80 |
| Mounting | VESA wall mount or kitchen rail mount | £15–£40 |
You do not need specialist KDS hardware. Food-Ordering.com's KDS module runs on any Windows PC connected to any monitor. A basic setup can be installed for under £300 total hardware cost.
Frequently asked questions
What hardware is needed for a KDS?
Any Windows PC connected to any monitor. A mini-PC (£100–150) wall-mounted behind the screen is the most common setup. For wet or greasy kitchens, use a monitor with sealed ports or an IP-rated enclosure.
How does a KDS handle orders from multiple channels?
Food-Ordering.com consolidates online, phone, and table QR orders into one stream. All appear on the KDS with channel source labelled. The kitchen works from one screen rather than multiple paper streams.
Can I run KDS and paper printers at the same time?
Yes. Many kitchens run both during a transition period. Once staff are comfortable with the screen workflow, the printers can be retired. You can also run KDS at one station and a printer at another.
Is the KDS module included in the licence?
Yes. The KDS module is included in the standard Food-Ordering.com licence at no extra cost. You source the hardware (PC and monitor) independently.
KDS is included — no additional cost
The Kitchen Display System module is part of every Food-Ordering.com licence. Get a quote for the full platform including KDS, online ordering, CallerID phone integration, and table QR code ordering.
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