What is a kitchen display (KDS) in a POS system?

A kitchen display shows orders digitally in the kitchen instead of on paper. Each item gets a status: new, in preparation and ready. The kitchen ticks items off once they're done, so front-of-house knows what can be served.

Can I choose which products go to the kitchen display?

Yes. Per category or per individual product you set whether it goes to the kitchen display and which printer it goes to. That way dishes appear on the kitchen display while drinks print on the bar printer.

How do courses work on the kitchen display?

You set up courses and link products to a course. The order then comes in per course, so the kitchen only starts the main course once front-of-house releases that course.

Does SmartPOSapp find my receipt printer automatically?

Under Settings › Receipt printers you can scan the network for printers on the same wifi network. Per printer you record where it is — kitchen, bar, counter or other — and whether it's connected via network (IP), bluetooth, USB or cloud.

Does the receipt print automatically when ordering?

Yes. As soon as you tap Order on the till or on a handheld, the lines go to the printers configured for that category or product and to the kitchen display. You don't need to confirm anything extra.

Do I need special hardware for the kitchen display?

No. The kitchen display is a separate, pre-installed app on a tablet or screen that we set up for you. You put it in full screen in the kitchen, on the same network as the till.

Can I use a kitchen display and a receipt printer at the same time?

Yes. Many venues have dishes appear on the kitchen display and print a ticket for the bar or takeaway counter at the same time. Per category or product you choose whether it goes to the screen, to a printer, or to both.

Does the kitchen display work without internet?

Till, handhelds, kitchen display and network printers communicate over your own wifi network. An internet connection is needed to sync with your account; a brief outage doesn't have to block the transfer within the venue.

How many kitchen displays can I connect?

You can open several screens, for example one at the hot kitchen and one at the cold kitchen or bar. Each screen only shows the lines from the categories linked to it.

Can I see how long an order has been open?

The kitchen display shows how long each order has been in, so you can see which tickets are taking too long. On the till, tables without recent activity flash red with the number of minutes since the last order.

What does a POS system with a kitchen display cost?

The kitchen display is a module within the subscription. You choose a plan; current prices and modules are on the pricing page.

Kitchen and front-of-house working together with a POS system with kitchen display and receipt printer

For restaurants, cafés, snack bars and sports canteens

Kitchen display and receipt printers in one POS system

Send orders automatically to the kitchen display and the right receipt printer. Choose per category or product where it goes, work with courses and let SmartPOSapp find the printers on your network. Part of the POS system for hospitality.

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Paperless kitchen display

Orders arrive digitally with the status new, in preparation and ready.

Route by category or product

Dishes to the kitchen, drinks to the bar, everything to the right printer.

Find printers automatically

Scan your network and connect the receipt printers on the same wifi.

Kitchen display in the kitchen showing incoming orders per table and their status

A kitchen display that replaces the ticket

On the kitchen display, the kitchen sees every order with table, quantities and notes. The cook sets an item to in preparation and then to ready; served items disappear from view. It's always clear what's still open and what's ready to be served.

New, in preparation and ready statuses with one tap
A separate kitchen display app that runs full screen on a tablet or monitor
Works on the same wifi network as the till and the handhelds

Product screen in the POS system where the destination is set per category and product

Routing by category, product and course

You decide what ends up where. Per category or per individual product you choose whether it goes to the kitchen display and which printer it comes out on. With courses you also decide when the kitchen starts a dish, so starters and mains aren't ready at the same time.

Configurable per category and per individual product
Kitchen, bar and counter only get their own lines
Create courses and link products to a course

Staff member sends an order from a handheld to the kitchen and receipt printer

Finding and setting up receipt printers

Under Settings › Receipt printers you scan the network for available printers. Per printer you record where it stands — kitchen, bar, counter or other — and how it's connected: network (IP), bluetooth, USB or cloud. Handhelds use the same printers as long as they're on the same network.

Automatically search for printers on the network
Location per printer: kitchen, bar, counter or other
Network (IP), bluetooth, USB or cloud as connection

Receipt printer automatically prints a kitchen ticket after the order is sent

Automatic printing when ordering

Tap Order on the till or on the handheld and the ticket prints automatically at the right printer, while the same lines appear on the kitchen display. No extra confirmation, no manual handoff, and no tickets left lying at the bar.

Ticket is sent immediately when the order goes out
Print from the till and from every handheld
Print jobs are visible in the printer overview

Bekijk in actie

Keuken- en barscherm

Bonnen direct op het scherm in de keuken en achter de bar.

How an order moves through your venue

1.Order taken. Staff ring up the order on the till or on a handheld.
2.Lines split. When sent, the system splits the lines by category or product: kitchen, bar or counter.
3.Automatic printing. The kitchen ticket prints automatically and the same lines appear on the kitchen display.
4.Status updated. The kitchen sets items to in preparation and then ready; staff see what can be served.
5.Course released. With courses, staff release the next course, so the kitchen starts at the right moment.

Take orders at the table with a handheld or QR ordering. Send drinks separately to the bar display (BDS).

The kitchen display in practice

Every venue routes things differently. Here are the setups we see most often.

Restaurant with courses

Starters and mains sit in separate courses. The kitchen only starts after front-of-house releases the course, while drinks print straight away on the bar printer.

POS system for restaurants

Café and bar-restaurant

Drinks go to the bar, kitchen dishes to the display. When it's busy the bar sees at a glance which round is still open.

POS system for cafés

Sports canteen and clubs

Volunteers ring up orders fast on tiles; the snack kitchen only gets the hot items on the display and receipt printer.

POS system for sports canteens

Food truck and events

One screen at the serving hatch and handhelds in the queue. Orders come in, in order, even on a mobile 4G/5G network.

POS system for food trucks

Frequently asked questions about the kitchen display and printing

What is a kitchen display (KDS) in a POS system?: A kitchen display shows orders digitally in the kitchen instead of on paper. Each item gets a status: new, in preparation and ready. The kitchen ticks items off once they're done, so front-of-house knows what can be served.
Can I choose which products go to the kitchen display?: Yes. Per category or per individual product you set whether it goes to the kitchen display and which printer it goes to. That way dishes appear on the kitchen display while drinks print on the bar printer.
How do courses work on the kitchen display?: You set up courses and link products to a course. The order then comes in per course, so the kitchen only starts the main course once front-of-house releases that course.
Does SmartPOSapp find my receipt printer automatically?: Under Settings › Receipt printers you can scan the network for printers on the same wifi network. Per printer you record where it is — kitchen, bar, counter or other — and whether it's connected via network (IP), bluetooth, USB or cloud.
Does the receipt print automatically when ordering?: Yes. As soon as you tap Order on the till or on a handheld, the lines go to the printers configured for that category or product and to the kitchen display. You don't need to confirm anything extra.
Do I need special hardware for the kitchen display?: No. The kitchen display is a separate, pre-installed app on a tablet or screen that we set up for you. You put it in full screen in the kitchen, on the same network as the till.
Can I use a kitchen display and a receipt printer at the same time?: Yes. Many venues have dishes appear on the kitchen display and print a ticket for the bar or takeaway counter at the same time. Per category or product you choose whether it goes to the screen, to a printer, or to both.
Does the kitchen display work without internet?: Till, handhelds, kitchen display and network printers communicate over your own wifi network. An internet connection is needed to sync with your account; a brief outage doesn't have to block the transfer within the venue.
How many kitchen displays can I connect?: You can open several screens, for example one at the hot kitchen and one at the cold kitchen or bar. Each screen only shows the lines from the categories linked to it.
Can I see how long an order has been open?: The kitchen display shows how long each order has been in, so you can see which tickets are taking too long. On the till, tables without recent activity flash red with the number of minutes since the last order.
What does a POS system with a kitchen display cost?: The kitchen display is a module within the subscription. You choose a plan; current prices and modules are on the pricing page.

Try the kitchen display in your own kitchen

Order your POS system, connect a printer and set up a tablet in the kitchen. We set everything up for you.

Order now Which hardware do I need?Connect a receipt printer Table management POS system for hospitality

Buy a POS system — instalments available

Buy the complete till set with touchscreen till, cash drawer and receipt printer. With a yearly contract you pay in monthly instalments. We install and set everything up on site.

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