Why Every Restaurant, Bar, and Brewery Needs a Kitchen Display System (KDS)

For restaurants, bars, and breweries, efficiency is key. Orders need to be prepared accurately, served quickly, and tracked seamlessly—especially when multiple stations are involved.

That’s where a Kitchen Display System (KDS) comes in. But don’t worry—this isn’t an “all or nothing” switch. If your team still loves printed dockets, a KDS can complement your existing workflow, giving you the best of both worlds.

How a KDS Transforms Restaurant, Bar, and Brewery Operations

1. Smart Order Routing – Send Orders to the Right Station

In a restaurant or brewery, different items are prepared at different locations. A KDS ensures:

• Food orders go straight to the grill or fry station

• Drinks appear at the bar station

• Pizza orders are sent directly to the pizza oven station

No more runners delivering tickets manually, no more confusion—every order is sent exactly where it needs to be.

2. Aggregated Orders View – Faster, More Efficient Prep (Pretzel POS Feature)

Switch between aggregated items view and docket view. In aggregated view Pretzel POS groups similar items together to streamline preparation.

Instead of:

• 1x Chicken Parma (No Ham, Chips Only)

• 1x Chicken Parma (Salad Only)

• 1x Chicken Parma (Chips & Salad)

• 1x Chicken Parma (Chips Only)

• 1x Chicken Parma (Chips Only)

You’ll see:

• 2x Chicken Parma with Chips

• 1x Chicken Parma with Salad

• 1x Chicken Parma with Chips & Salad

• 1x Chicken Parma (No Ham With Chips)

This means your kitchen can prepare meals more efficiently, reduce mistakes, and speed up service.

3. Works Alongside Printed Dockets

Prefer to keep printed dockets? No problem. A KDS can work alongside traditional printers, allowing your team to:

• Print dockets for specific stations while using the KDS for others

• Keep a printed backup for staff who prefer paper orders

• Use the KDS for real-time tracking while still handing out printed dockets

You don’t have to choose one or the other—you can use both!

4. Faster Service, Happier Customers

When food and drinks arrive at the same time, customers have a better dining experience. A KDS helps synchronize kitchen and bar prep, so no one is left waiting too long for their drink or meal.

5. No More Lost or Misread Orders

Paper dockets can get lost, smudged, or misread, leading to mistakes, wasted ingredients, and unhappy customers. A KDS keeps everything digital and organised while still allowing printed backups if needed.

6. Better Workflow for High-Volume Bars & Breweries

Busy bars and breweries handle high order volumes, especially on weekends. A KDS makes life easier for bartenders by:

• Displaying drink orders clearly—no more squinting at scribbled dockets.

• Prioritising orders by time—so no customer is left waiting too long.

• Grouping similar drinks together—helping bartenders prepare multiple cocktails at once.

7. Improve Communication Between FOH & BOH

With a KDS, front-of-house (FOH) and back-of-house (BOH) staff stay in sync:

• Kitchen teams see orders in real-time as they come in.

• Servers know when orders are ready—no unnecessary back-and-forth.

• Bartenders get drink orders instantly—no need for printed dockets or verbal relays.

8. Seamless POS Integration

With Pretzel POS + KDS, every order flows directly from the POS to the KDS, ensuring:

• No manual entry

• Fewer mistakes

• Faster service

9. Handle Online & In-House Orders with Ease

If your restaurant, bar, or brewery accepts online orders, a KDS ensures that online tickets appear alongside in-house orders, so staff can manage both efficiently.

Why Restaurants, Bars, and Breweries Love Pretzel POS + KDS

• Smart order routing – Drinks to the bar, food to the kitchen

• Aggregated orders for faster prep (Exclusive to Pretzel POS!)

• Works alongside printed dockets – Use both, if preferred!

• Eliminates lost or smudged dockets

• Syncs with online orders & table service

• Improves speed, accuracy, and customer satisfaction

• 100% local support from our Australian team

Want to streamline your restaurant, bar, or brewery?

📖 Learn more: pretzelpos.com.au