The KDS (Kitchen Display System) replaces paper tickets in the kitchen. Orders show in real time on screens, per station, with per-dish timer. Real benefits: room/kitchen communication, no more back-and-forth for modifications, simplified service.
1. Choose hardware
BipOrder KDS runs on:
- Android tablet 10"+ (Lenovo Tab M10, Samsung Tab A8)
- iPad 10"+
- USB touchscreen connected to a mini-PC (ideal for open kitchens ≥ 15")
- Plain screen (non-touch) with mouse/keyboard — also works
Wet-kitchen tip: protect the tablet in a waterproof plexi case (≈ €40). Enough for 99% of setups. No industrial hardware needed.
2. Install the KDS
On the tablet, open Chrome or Safari and go to: kds.biporder.com. Log in with your BipOrder account. On first connection, name the tablet (e.g. "Hot kitchen", "Bar"). You can add to home screen for full-screen use.
On Android, enable "Full screen mode" and "Keep screen on" so the tablet doesn't sleep during service.
3. Configure stations
Go to Settings > Kitchen > Stations. Create one station per post: Hot, Cold, Bar, Dessert, Pizza, Fryer... Each menu item is then assigned to a station.
If you have a single kitchen without distinct posts, create a generic "Kitchen" station and assign everything to it. Consistent and migratable later.
4. Kitchen workflow
On order arrival:
- The order card appears in the relevant station, red if urgent.
- The timer starts.
- The cook taps "In preparation" then "Ready" when the dish is out.
- The server receives a "Dish ready to serve" notification on the app.
- Once served, the order turns green then disappears.
5. Priorities and alerts
- Colours: green (< 5 min), orange (5-10 min), red (> 10 min)
- Optional sound for new orders (set per tablet)
- Allergen detection in large text on the card (gluten, dairy, nuts...)
- Server notes shown in bold (e.g. "no onions")
6. Multi-kitchen and high volumes
For big restaurants: 1 tablet per station, + 1 "Pass" tablet aggregating for the chef de partie. Real-time Socket.IO sync — no polling, no lag.
Internet outage?
BipOrder KDS has a degraded mode: orders already received stay visible and manipulable. As soon as internet returns, new orders arrive and dish state is synced.