What is a kitchen display system (KDS)?
A kitchen display system (KDS) is a screen in the kitchen that shows every order in real time, replacing paper tickets. Orders from the POS and from QR ordering at the table appear straight away with the table number, dishes, add-ons and special notes, so the kitchen knows exactly what to prepare.
How does a kitchen display system work?
A KDS connects to your point of sale (POS) and QR ordering. In EnakKDS the flow looks like this:
- An order comes in. Staff enter it at the POS, or a guest orders from the QR code on their table.
- A ticket appears on the kitchen screen. Each ticket shows the order time, the table number or a takeaway label, each dish and quantity, add-ons, and notes for each item and for the whole order.
- The kitchen starts cooking. A cook moves the ticket to “preparing” and a timer starts on that ticket.
- Items are crossed off one by one. Each finished item is marked, and once every item is done the ticket moves to completed on its own.
Tickets are grouped into three tabs: new, preparing and completed. Each tab shows its ticket count, so the kitchen can see the workload at a glance.
How is a KDS different from a kitchen ticket printer?
| Paper ticket printer | KDS | |
|---|---|---|
| New orders | Printed, can get lost or buried | Stay on screen until done |
| Order status | Not visible | New, preparing or completed |
| How long an order has waited | Remembered or worked out by hand | A timer on every ticket being prepared |
| Special notes | Small print, easy to miss | Shown under each dish |
| Several stations | One printer per station | One screen per service area |
| Paper | Bought and replaced constantly | No paper needed for tickets |
Kitchen printers are still useful. You can use a screen for the main kitchen and a printer for the bar, or keep a printer as a backup. EnakPay works with Epson printers and other ESC/POS printers.
How does a KDS help your kitchen?
- No lost tickets. Orders stay on screen until they’re done, instead of slipping under other tickets or falling on the floor.
- Clearer orders. Add-ons and notes like “no chilli” sit under the right dish, so fewer plates come back.
- See which orders have waited longest. The timer on each ticket helps the kitchen prioritise orders that have been waiting.
- Each station sees only its own work. The kitchen, bar or pastry section can each have a screen that shows only their items.
- Kitchen and counter stay in sync. New orders appear on screen in real time, with no one walking tickets to the kitchen.
When does your venue need a KDS?
Your venue is probably ready for a KDS if some of these sound familiar:
- Paper tickets get lost, mixed up or wet during the rush.
- Many orders come with special notes or allergy requests.
- You use, or plan to use, QR ordering, so lots of orders arrive at once.
- Your venue has more than one station, such as a kitchen and a bar.
- Guests often ask when their food is coming, or receive the wrong dish.
On the other hand, you may not need a KDS yet if your venue is small, the menu is short, and the person cooking is also the one taking orders. For venues like that, a ticket printer is usually enough.
What do you need to set up a KDS?
- A screen in the kitchen. EnakKDS runs in the browser, so a tablet or screen you already have will work. KDS hardware is also available as an optional add-on.
- A reliable internet connection, because orders are sent in real time.
- A connected POS and QR ordering system, so every order lands on the same screen.
- The right screen position: easy to see from the cooking station, and safe from heat and splashes.
How much does a KDS cost with EnakPay?
EnakKDS is included in Basic at Rp499K per month and Pro at Rp799K per month, per venue, together with QR ordering (EnakApp), the POS (EnakPOS) and the venue portal (EnakVP). There are no onboarding fees, and paying annually gives you 2 months free.
Compare the plans, or read how much a restaurant POS costs in Indonesia.
