How to Choose the Right Kitchen Display System

Choosing the right kitchen display system (KDS) can make or break your restaurant's efficiency.

Let’s be real: paper tickets and shouting across the kitchen are dead. If you're still using old-school methods, you're bleeding speed, accuracy, and profit.

A modern KDS is more than just a screen. It's the heart of your kitchen operations, especially if you rely on food delivery or run a busy QSR. The right system will streamline workflow, reduce errors, and make service smoother - faster food, happier customers, and fewer complaints.

In this guide, we break down how to evaluate a kitchen display system, what features matter most, what to avoid, and why RocketBox is leading the pack.

What Is a Kitchen Display System?

A kitchen display system is a digital screen that replaces traditional paper tickets. Orders appear on a screen in real time, organised by station, service type, or priority.

Instead of chefs grabbing paper slips and trying to figure out what’s urgent, a good KDS makes decisions for them - clear, fast, reliable.

KDS systems are typically used by:

● Quick-service restaurants

● Delivery-first brands

● Ghost kitchens

● High-volume takeaways

● Multi-location franchises

If speed, accuracy, and visibility matter in your kitchen, a KDS is a non-negotiable.

Why Choosing the Right Kitchen Display System Matters

All KDS platforms are not created equal.

Some just show orders.

Others optimise kitchen operations with real-time order prioritisation, routing, and performance insights.

Picking the wrong system will frustrate your chefs, slow down prep, and confuse your drivers. But the right one? It turns chaos into control.

Let’s dive into the key things to consider.

1. Core Features You Shouldn’t Compromise On

a) Real-Time Order Updates

A proper KDS must show orders in real time. If there’s a delay, it creates chaos. Seconds matter in busy kitchens.

b) Multi-Channel Integration

Your KDS needs to connect with all your ordering platforms - Uber Eats, Deliveroo, Just Eat, your website, POS, whatever. Everything flows into one view.

c) Order Routing by Station

Want fries to go to one screen, grill items to another? Your KDS should let you route items based on prep station. This avoids crowding and confusion.

d) Order Prioritisation

This is where AI-powered optimisation shines. Orders should be sorted not by time received but by urgency - delivery ETA, prep time, and kitchen load.

e) Order Summary Views

Give your staff a total count of what needs prepping. “10 Fries, 8 Wings, 5 Burgers” - simple and visual.

f) Performance Metrics

Know your bump speeds, ticket times, and bottlenecks. You can’t improve what you don’t measure.

g) Support for Multiple Languages

Diverse kitchens need tools that speak their language - literally. A multilingual KDS improves clarity and cuts errors.

2. Pricing: Know What You’re Paying For

Some KDS vendors make pricing intentionally confusing.

Let’s break it down:

a) Subscription vs. One-Time

Most modern KDS are SaaS products - you pay monthly. Avoid platforms that charge big upfront fees without offering updates or support.

b) By Screen, Order Volume, or Location

RocketBox, for example, uses a volume-based model. Others charge per screen or per location. Be clear on how your cost scales as you grow.

c) Hidden Fees

Beware of extra charges for integrations, support, or “premium features.” It adds up.

Real Talk: The cheapest system usually isn’t the best. Think ROI, not just cost.

d) Tiered Plans

Some systems offer tiered features. Make sure the tier you’re on includes what you actually need: routing, integrations, real-time analytics, etc.

e) Hardware Costs

Will you need to buy new screens? Tablets? Mounts? Printers? Factor it in. RocketBox supports existing hardware to reduce this burden.

3. Integrations: Don’t Get Stuck in a Silo

Your kitchen display system should plug into your existing tech stack. Period.

Look for native or API integrations with:

●      POS systems (Toast, Square, Lightspeed, Clover)

●      Delivery platforms (Uber Eats, DoorDash, Deliveroo)

●      Order aggregators (Deliverect, Otter)

●      Kitchen printers (yes, some kitchens still need these)

No integration? It’s a dealbreaker.

Also, be sure your KDS supports webhooks or other real-time data pushes for seamless sync.

4. Comparing the Big Players: RocketBox vs. the Rest

Let’s compare RocketBox to four major systems:

RocketBox – The Smart Choice

●      AI-Powered Order Sorting: Prioritises based on driver ETA, prep time, and complexity.

●      Multi-Station Routing: Route products to specific screens by category.

●      Real-Time Product Summaries: Know what’s needed at each station at a glance.

●      Driver Synchronisation: Preps food to match driver arrival - not too early, not too late.

●      Open API: Integrate with any POS or platform.

●      Multilingual Support: Built for international teams.

●      24/7 Support: Global team, always online.

●      Smart Kitchen Dashboard: Real-time metrics, alerts, and performance tracking.

RocketBox is purpose-built for high-volume, delivery-first restaurants. If you run a fast-paced kitchen, this is what you want.

Fresh KDS – Basic but Reliable

●      iPad-Based

●      Great for small, single-location setups

●      Simple Display

●      Limited Integrations

●      Manual sorting, limited logic

●      Not Ideal for Chains or Complex Workflows

Fresh KDS is fine if you’re small and don’t need advanced logic or integrations.

Toast KDS – Only for Toast Users

●      Built into Toast POS

●      Solid UI

●      Good for In-House Orders

●      Limited External Delivery Integration

If you already use Toast POS and only care about dine-in or counter service, this works. But it doesn’t play well with outside platforms.

Square KDS – Only for Square Users

●      Free with Square POS

●      Simple Setup

●      Limited Routing / No AI / Limited Customisation

●      Good for In-House Orders

This is a great starter KDS, but it won’t scale.

QSR Automations (ConnectSmart) – Enterprise-Grade

●      Highly Customisable

●      Expensive

●      Best for Enterprise Chains

●      Steep Learning Curve

Powerful, but overkill for most independents. Also, setup is slow and hardware is costly.

5. What Sets RocketBox Apart?

Here’s why RocketBox is ahead of the pack:

●      Purpose-Built for Delivery Kitchens: Every feature considers real-world delivery operations.

●      AI That Actually Works: Not just a buzzword. It sorts and times orders better than any human can.

●      POS-Agnostic: Don’t get locked into one ecosystem.

●      Real-Time Driver Sync: It knows when drivers are nearby and preps accordingly.

●      Simple Setup: Go live in days, not months.

●      Multi-Language UI: Supports diverse teams from day one.

●      Smart Routing: Assign items to screens by keyword or SKU. Intuitive and flexible.

●      Live Insights: Track station bump speeds, order flow, and prep times.

●      Frequent Updates: RocketBox evolves weekly. You're always ahead.

If your kitchen is fast-paced, high-pressure, and built around delivery - RocketBox is your edge.

6. Questions to Ask Before You Buy

●      Can it integrate with all your current platforms?

●      Does it support AI-powered order sorting?

●      How is pricing structured? Are there hidden fees?

●      What’s the onboarding and setup process?

●      Can you customise routing, display settings, and workflows?

●      How fast is support if something goes wrong during peak service?

●      Can it scale as you grow to 5, 10, or 50 locations?

●      Can it give you real-time data you can act on?

7. Implementation & Onboarding: What to Expect

The best systems make onboarding easy. Here’s what it should look like:

●      Pre-Setup Call: Define your needs and integrations

●      Hardware Support: Know what screens or tablets to use

●      Training: For both FOH and BOH teams

●      Go-Live Support: Ideally during your peak hours

●      Post-Live Review: Tweak rules, settings, and screen layout

RocketBox, for instance, has 24/7 onboarding support and a live dashboard walkthrough. It’s plug-and-play compared to the complexity of older systems.

8. How a Good KDS Improves Your Bottom Line

Let’s wrap with the real reason you’re reading this: ROI.

A good kitchen display system helps you:

●      Serve food faster

●      Eliminate missed tickets

●      Reduce waste from incorrect orders

●      Improve driver coordination

●      Scale your operation across locations

●      Lower staff stress and turnover

●      Drive repeat orders and better reviews

Time is money in restaurants. The faster you prep, the more orders you can take. The more accurate you are, the fewer refunds and complaints.

One good shift can turn a walkout into a 5-star review. Multiply that by 365.

9. Common Mistakes When Choosing a KDS

Many restaurants jump into a KDS purchase without thinking long-term. Avoid these pitfalls:

a) Focusing Only on Price
 Cheaper KDS solutions might seem attractive upfront, but hidden costs - like limited integrations, lack of AI, or insufficient support - can cost you more in the long run.

b) Ignoring Staff Input
 Your kitchen staff knows what works and what doesn’t. A KDS that looks good on paper but frustrates chefs can slow down service instead of speeding it up.

c) Overcomplicating Your Workflow
 Some KDS solutions come with a complicated feature set. But if your team only uses a fraction of them, you’re paying for complexity you don’t need.

10. How AI-Powered Optimisation Transforms Kitchens

AI isn’t just a buzzword - it actively improves kitchen efficiency:

●      Dynamic Prioritisation: AI considers prep time, driver ETA, and item complexity, automatically reordering tickets to reduce delays.

● Bottleneck Detection: The system highlights stations that are slowing down prep, allowing managers to intervene in real time.

● Predictive Analytics: AI can forecast busy periods based on past trends, helping you staff your kitchen intelligently.

● Waste Reduction: By tracking order completion times and delays, AI helps minimise over-preparation or spoiled ingredients.

Restaurants that implement RocketBox’s AI-powered optimisation typically see a 20-30% increase in throughput within the first 90 days.

11. Supporting Ghost Kitchens and Multi-Location Operations

KDS isn’t just for traditional dine-in restaurants. Ghost kitchens and multi-location chains have unique needs:

● Centralised Order Management: Orders from multiple locations can be tracked from a single dashboard.

● Consistent Performance Metrics: Multi-location chains can compare prep speeds, ticket times, and delivery accuracy across sites.

● Scaling Made Simple: Adding a new location is easy when your KDS integrates seamlessly with POS, delivery apps, and kitchen printers.

Ghost kitchens, delivery-first brands, and QSR chains find KDS indispensable for staying competitive in crowded markets.

12. Tips for Choosing the Right Hardware

Even the best KDS will fail with incompatible or poorly placed hardware:

● Screen Placement: Ensure each station can easily view its orders without obstructing workflow.

● Durable Devices: Kitchens are hot, humid, and greasy environments. Use commercial-grade tablets or monitors.

● Touch Responsiveness: Your KDS must respond instantly to staff inputs - lag leads to mistakes.

● Battery Life & Power Backup: If you’re using tablets, ensure uninterrupted operation during power fluctuations.

RocketBox supports existing hardware, which reduces setup costs and avoids unnecessary replacements.

13. Future-Proofing Your KDS

Restaurants evolve, and your KDS should evolve too:

● Regular Updates: Systems like RocketBox release frequent updates to adapt to changing delivery platforms and new features.

● Expandable Features: Start with essential functions and add advanced routing, analytics, or AI modules as needed.

● POS-Agnostic: Avoid being locked into one platform - your restaurant may upgrade POS systems, and your KDS should adapt without a hitch.

Investing in a future-proof KDS saves headaches and costs over time.

14. Measuring ROI with Your KDS

To fully understand a KDS’s impact, track metrics:

● Order Accuracy: Fewer mistakes = higher customer satisfaction.

● Prep Speed: Faster prep = more orders per shift.

● Driver Coordination: Reduces late deliveries and cold food complaints.

● Staff Efficiency: Lower stress and higher retention improve operational stability.

● Revenue Growth: Time saved translates to more orders and higher profitability.

A strong KDS can often pay for itself within months if optimised correctly.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the right kitchen display system isn’t about picking the flashiest interface or the cheapest subscription. It’s about picking a system that works for your kitchen.

RocketBox isn’t just a KDS. It’s a real-time operations brain that helps you serve more food, faster - with fewer errors.

If you're serious about food delivery, speed, and kitchen control - this is your system.

A strong KDS can often pay for itself within months if optimised correctly.

FAQ: Choosing the Right Kitchen Display System (KDS)

Q1: Why is a KDS better than paper tickets?
A KDS eliminates errors caused by lost or misread paper tickets. Orders are displayed instantly on digital screens, routed to the correct prep stations, which speeds up service and improves order accuracy.

Q2: How does AI-powered optimisation improve kitchen efficiency?
 An AI-powered KDS, like RocketBox, automatically prioritises orders based on factors like delivery ETA, prep time, and kitchen load. It reduces bottlenecks, predicts busy periods, and helps staff work smarter, not harder.

Q3: Can a KDS integrate with my current POS or delivery platforms?
 Yes. Top KDS platforms, like RocketBox, support native and API integrations with POS systems (Toast, Square, Lightspeed) and delivery apps (Uber Eats, Deliveroo, DoorDash, GrubHub). This centralises orders in one view and prevents missed tickets or miscommunication.

Q4: How much does a KDS cost, and what should I watch out for?
 Pricing varies depending on subscription type, order volume, screens, and locations. Be aware of hidden fees for integrations, premium features, or hardware. Consider ROI, not just upfront cost, since the right KDS often pays for itself quickly.

Q5: Is a KDS suitable for multi-location or ghost kitchens?
 Absolutely. A good KDS allows centralised order management, consistent performance tracking, and easy scalability. Ghost kitchens and multi-location restaurants rely on KDS for streamlined operations and accurate, timely deliveries.

Ready to streamline your kitchen, boost order accuracy, and take your restaurant’s delivery game to the next level? Discover how RocketBox can transform your operations today.