Choosing the best tech for your restaurant can improve the guest experience and simplify your operational processes. For example, a kitchen display system (KDS) is an excellent tool for streamlining the ordering system in your restaurant. There are various models on the market, including Square, Lightspeed, and Fresh KDS.
These KDS systems have slightly different features and capabilities, and they may not all work with the same hardware and software. It’s a good idea to research the different types of kitchen display systems to see what might work well in your restaurant setting.
If you’re interested in Fresh KDS but want to learn more about its functionality and pricing, you’ve come to the right place. With this guide, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about Fresh KDS: how it works, which point-of-sale systems it’s compatible with, and how your restaurant could benefit from it.
Fresh KDS is a tablet-based kitchen display system that replaces or works alongside paper tickets to provide back-of-house (BOH) teams with instant updates on incoming orders. A Wi-Fi connection works with your point-of-sale system (POS system) to notify your kitchen staff every time a customer orders food.
To use it, simply download the Fresh KDS app onto an iPad or Android tablet in your kitchen and connect it to your POS software.
Once set up, the KDS will give your BOH team a clear view of what orders they need to fulfill, which tables/customers they’re for, and the order of priority.
Fresh KDS can help you streamline your order management and improve order accuracy. It could even improve customer satisfaction rates and customer loyalty.
By incorporating Fresh KDS into your restaurant business, you can simplify the order process by removing unnecessary steps. There’s no need for paper tickets, and front-of-house (FOH) staff don’t need to carry orders to the chef, as orders placed on the POS will automatically show on the KDS.
Your BOH team can enjoy real-time updates on incoming orders so they know what to prepare as soon as possible. Speeding up the order process allows your customers to enjoy reduced wait times and a better dining experience.
Fresh KDS can also help you improve your order accuracy, as the order will appear exactly as it was made on the POS. There’s no need for your chefs to struggle with messy handwriting or notes that get lost in the chaos of a busy kitchen.
Greater order accuracy means you’re more likely to have happy customers, which could encourage people to return for a second visit. With more accurate orders, you could also see a reduction in food waste in your restaurant, as you’ll have fewer wrong orders that need to be thrown away.
Simply by using a more efficient ordering system, you could see less wastage and enjoy more significant profit margins.
Fresh KDS can display all kinds of orders made in your restaurant. It shows orders made with a staffer on a POS and online orders. This means it’s also an excellent option for restaurants that use e-commerce systems or third-party delivery services, such as Grubhub and Uber Eats.
Self-service devices like KioskBuddy also have Fresh KDS integration. Orders that customers make on the KioskBuddy app synchronize with your POS software and show immediately on the Fresh KDS display in the kitchen.
KioskBuddy and Fresh KDS can also work together to send SMS notifications to customers who want to order food for takeout. When your kitchen staff marks the item as ready, the customer will receive a text message telling them their food is ready to collect. This functionality means it’s convenient for use in a food truck or market stall.
By now, you should understand what Fresh KDS is and how it can benefit your restaurant. To help you get a better grasp of this software and any potential limitations, we’ve put together a list of frequently asked questions.
There are a couple of pricing plans for Fresh KDS. Prices start at $19 per month for a yearly plan, with additional screens available for $4 per month each. The advanced plan, which includes SMS notification functionality, costs $35 per month for one screen.
You’ll also need to purchase hardware to use alongside the software. Ensure you factor the cost of a tablet into your budget. As of April 2023, a 10th generation 10.9-inch iPad costs $449.
Fresh KDS supports various restaurant POS systems, including:
Square (and Square for Restaurants)
Lightspeed
Cuboh
Clover
Talech
Clubspeed
Northstar
Linga
ToGo
Crowd Engage
Fresh KDS is compatible with most of the best-known POS systems, but you should check whether your existing system is compatible before you sign up. Fresh has a handy integrations guide to make it easy for potential customers to decide.
Yes, Fresh Technology is compatible with the Logic Controls KB1700 USB Kitchen Display Bump Bar. This is an excellent option for kitchens working with lots of grease and oil that don’t want to ruin the touchscreen device. A bump bar lets you interact with the KDS software without touching the screen itself.
The Fresh KDS display is customizable, so you can tweak it to be as helpful as possible within your restaurant. Restaurants can operate in many ways, so you can change the display settings of the KDS to ensure it’s showing all the information you need without any unnecessary extras.
Unfortunately, Fresh KDS will not be able to function if you’re not connected to a Wi-Fi or internet connection. If you run a food truck or mobile food service, you can hook up to a portable internet server (such as a mobile internet hotspot device or a mobile Wi-Fi dongle) to use the KDS.
Fresh KDS needs its own dedicated tablet to function. You can’t use the same device as your POS or self-service tablet. It runs on iPads working on iOS 13 or above, but it also works on Android tablets, so you don’t have to buy a dedicated iPad if you already have something else on hand.
The software isn’t suitable for use on iPhones or Android phones and doesn’t work on laptops or desktop computers. It only works on a tablet or large touchscreen monitor.
Fresh KDS is a fantastic tool for restaurant operators who want to bring a level of automation into their procedures and reduce ticket times. It’s an easy-to-use app that can improve your FOH-BOH communication, speed up service, and lower order inaccuracies.
KioskBuddy is compatible with Fresh KDS. Self-service orders placed on the ordering tablet will appear on the KDS to show your chefs exactly what needs cooking and when. This is a perfect setup for counter service, quick-service, or takeout restaurants that want to further speed up their processes and reduce FOH labor costs.
Sign up for KioskBuddy today and enjoy a 30-day free trial to see how it works within your restaurant structure.