Kitchen Display Documentation

Complete guide to setting up and managing Kitchen Display Systems (KDS) for real-time order tracking and kitchen workflow optimization.

Overview

The Kitchen Display System replaces traditional paper tickets with digital displays that show orders in real-time. Benefits include:

• Elimination of paper waste and printing costs
• Real-time order updates and modifications
• Improved kitchen communication and efficiency
• Automatic timing and performance tracking
• Color-coded priority system for faster service

Perfect for kitchens of all sizes, from single-station setups to complex multi-station operations with specialized prep areas.

Kitchen Display Setup

Setting up your Kitchen Display System is quick and requires no special software installation.

Prerequisites

• Flip POS app installed and configured
• Device with web browser (tablet, computer, smart TV, POS Computer (Elo Touch))
• Stable internet connection

Quick Setup Process

1. In the Shopify admin, navigate to the Flip POS app
2. On the left hand navigation, click "Settings" under Flip POS. Or you can also get to the settings page by clicking the "Settings" button under "Quick Actions" on the Flip POS App home page.
3. Navigate to the Kitchen Display System section of the Flip POS Settings page
4. Click the Setup New Display button
5. Select the Restaurant Location dropdown and choose a location (these locations are based on your Shopify POS locations).
6. Enter a Display Name (e.g. "Grill Station", "Main Kitchen")
7. Click Complete Setup button
8. A popup will appear with the new kitchen display URL. Write down or save this URL.
9. Go to your Kitchen Display device (iPad, Elo Touch monitor, Smart TV, etc) and enter the kitchen didplay URL that was provided after creating the Kitchen Display in the Flip POS settings.
10. The kitchen display will load and show orders as they are sent from the Flip POS app.

Kitchen Display Features

The KDS shows orders in real time as they are sent from the Table Service and Quick Serve POS extensions. Each order appears as a ticket card with all the information kitchen staff need to prepare and complete the order.

What Each Ticket Shows

• Table number and service area (Table Service orders)
• Order name / check number — for split checks, the ticket shows all check names involved (e.g., "Check - Split 1 + Check - Split 2")
• Time sent to kitchen — shown as an elapsed timer so staff can see how long the ticket has been waiting
• All items with quantities
• Modifiers and item variants — e.g., "no onion", "medium rare", "large"
• Item-level and order-level notes — allergy flags, special requests

Completing a Ticket

When kitchen staff have finished preparing all items on a ticket, they tap the "Complete" button on the ticket card. This:

• Removes the ticket from the KDS display
• Marks all items on that ticket as completed in the system
• Updates the order status to READY (if all items across the order are done)
• Logs an ORDER_READY event in the order's tracking timeline

Auto-Polling

The kitchen display automatically polls for new tickets every few seconds. New tickets appear on screen without any manual refresh. The display also handles its own reconnection if the network is briefly interrupted.

Combined Table Tickets

When a table has been split into multiple checks and a server uses the "Send to Kitchen" action from the Actions screen (which sends all unsent items at the table at once), all items from all checks are grouped into a single combined KDS ticket rather than showing as separate tickets per check.

Why This Matters

Without combined tickets, a table split into 4 checks would generate 4 separate KDS tickets when "Send All" is used — one per check. This clutters the display and makes it harder for kitchen staff to see that all items belong to the same table at the same time.

With combined tickets, all items sent from the same table at the same moment appear as one ticket. The ticket header shows all check names involved (e.g., "Check - Split 1 + Check - Split 2 + Check - Split 3") so staff can see at a glance that it is a combined party order.

How It Works

• Items sent individually per-check (by tapping the send icon on each check) each appear as their own ticket — this is unchanged
• Items sent via Actions → Send to Kitchen (bulk send) are grouped by table and timestamp into one combined ticket
• Completing a combined ticket marks all items across all contributing checks as done and updates each check's order status

Multiple Displays & Category Routing

You can set up multiple KDS displays for different kitchen stations, each showing only the tickets relevant to that station.

Setting Up Multiple Displays

Each KDS display is configured independently in the Flip POS admin. Common setups include:

• Main Kitchen Display — shows all food categories
• Bar Display — shows only drink orders
• Grill / Hot Station — shows only hot food categories
• Expo / Expediting — shows all orders for assembly coordination

Category Routing

Each KDS display can be configured to show only items from specific menu categories. This filters tickets so each station only sees what is relevant to them.

1. In the Flip POS admin, go to Settings → Kitchen Display System
2. Click the display you want to configure
3. Under Category Routing, select the menu categories that should appear on this display
4. Save — the display will immediately start filtering tickets to show only items from those categories

Tip: A display with no categories assigned shows all items from all categories. Assign categories only when you want to restrict a display to specific stations.

Independent Completion

Each station's display completes its own items independently. A bar display completing a drink ticket does not affect the grill station's food ticket for the same order. Both must be completed for the order to be marked fully READY.

Hardware Requirements

Choose the right hardware for optimal kitchen display performance.

Recommended Devices

• Tablets: 10" or larger iPads, Android tablets
• All-in-One Computers: Touchscreen computers
• Smart TVs: 32" or larger with browser capability
• Industrial Displays: Kitchen-rated waterproof displays
• Monitors + Computers: Traditional setup with mini PC

Mounting Solutions

• Wall Mounts: Fixed position mounting
• Articulating Arms: Adjustable viewing angles
• Ceiling Mounts: Overhead display positioning
• Counter Stands: Portable display solutions

Environmental Considerations

• Heat Resistance: Devices rated for kitchen temperatures
• Moisture Protection: Splash-resistant screens
• Easy Cleaning: Smooth surfaces for sanitization
• Visibility: Bright displays for well-lit kitchens

Troubleshooting

Common issues and solutions for kitchen display systems.

Display Not Loading

• Check Internet: Verify device has internet connection
• Verify URL: Ensure 6-character code is correct
• Clear Cache: Refresh browser and clear cache
• Try Different Browser: Test with Chrome, Safari, or Firefox
• Check Code Status: Verify code is active in admin panel

Orders Not Appearing

• Check that items were sent to kitchen: Items only appear on the KDS after a server taps "Send to Kitchen" — simply adding items to an order is not enough
• Check category routing: If the display has category routing configured, verify the item's menu category is included in that display's routing settings
• Check that items are not already completed: Items marked as done (completedInKitchen) are filtered out of the display automatically
• Reload the browser page: The display auto-polls, but a manual refresh can resolve a stale connection
• Verify the KDS code: Confirm the URL in the browser matches the code shown in Flip POS Settings → Kitchen Display System

Performance Issues

• Slow Loading: Check internet speed and device performance
• Display Lag: Reduce number of simultaneous orders shown
• Browser Crashes: Update browser or restart device
• Touch Responsiveness: Clean screen and calibrate touch

Getting Support

If issues persist:

• Contact support at support@restaurantos.com
• Include your 6-character display code
• Describe the issue and device details
• Schedule a remote troubleshooting session