A customer sits at a restaurant counter during the Friday lunch rush and places an order. The server writes it up and delivers the ticket to the kitchen, but harried staff miss it, and it gets buried under three others. Ten minutes later, the customer asks where their food is, and the kitchen scrambles to fix things. In the process, staff misread the scribbled order, and the vegetarian customer gets a beef burger. This might sound like a familiar scenario, especially for quick-service restaurants (QSRs) on their busiest days. But restaurant technology like Epson’s TrueOrder KDSTM can help cut down on common kitchen inefficiencies, increase customer satisfaction and reduce waste.
Kitchen display systems (KDS) like TrueOrder replace printed chits with an end-to-end digital solution that shows exactly what needs to be made, in what order, with full visibility for everyone on the line. That leads to fast, accurate order fulfillment and happy customers.
But choosing the right KDS is a daunting prospect for many restaurants — there may be concerns about the investment, or getting locked in with a POS vendor that stops serving your needs as you grow. There are lots of criteria to consider. Some solutions need constant internet connectivity, while others apply monthly subscription fees that chip away at already-thin quick-service restaurant (QSR) margins.
Epson’s TrueOrder KDS was built to address these concerns head-on.
How to choose the right KDS
Choosing a KDS that can adapt to change is critical, and the point-of-sale (POS) software landscape is constantly evolving. As a result, vendor lock-in tops the list of concerns for many QSRs.
Unlike other KDS systems that may lock you into costly subscriptions and vendor-specific setups, TrueOrder KDS is available as a one-time buy, meaning no subscription or recurring license fees are required. The returns you get on your investment are yours to keep, and that can make a real difference in a margin-constrained sector like QSR.
Then there’s internet dependency. Systems that require constant cloud connectivity can turn a minor network hiccup into a full kitchen meltdown.
Epson built TrueOrder with a specific philosophy: break free from vendor lock-in with a kitchen display system that you can keep even if you change your KDS POS software.
Exceptionally broad POS compatibility is a key feature of TrueOrder KDS. It is designed to work with virtually any POS system that can print to an Epson receipt or kitchen printer. In fact, customers have successfully used Epson’s KDS with over 55 different POS vendors so far. This means if you switch vendors next year, your KDS investment and your kitchen efficiency don’t have to suffer.
Internet dependency isn’t a concern either. TrueOrder can run entirely on your local network and doesn’t need a cloud connection – not even for setup and configuration. This helps provide both snappy performance and consistent reliability.
Hardware built for real kitchen environments
Consumer-grade tablets don’t belong in commercial kitchens. Heat, grease, moisture and constant handling can destroy hardware that wasn’t designed for it. They can also be very difficult to clean properly, compromising food safety.
Epson took a different approach when designing TrueOrder. It partnered with industry-leading hardware vendors known for high durability and safety, including Elo, Kitchen Armor, Logic Controls, and MicroTouch. These are companies that specialize in rugged KDS hardware.
Operators can choose all-in-one touchscreens, bump bars, or a mix of both. Match the hardware to each station’s needs and your staff’s preferences.
Improve speed and accuracy without adding complexity
Some KDS solutions are too simple to be useful. Others can be complex to set up and manage. TrueOrder KDS aims for the middle ground: feature-rich and flexible, but still easy to use.
For example, labeling capabilities are built directly into TrueOrder. Support for Epson POS label printers lets staff highlight key information to increase order accuracy on to-go bags and delivery containers. Logos and QR codes are also easy to add.
Analytics tools included with TrueOrder help identify what’s slowing things down. Restaurants committed to constant improvement can track order prep speeds over time and across locations, then drill down to identify process bottlenecks and restore speed of service.
Epson also concentrated heavily on the user experience to keep TrueOrder both feature-rich and simple to use. The software comes preinstalled on the hardware displays to simplify installation, and staff can make ongoing adjustments through a browser-based configuration utility. The system is highly customizable to help match existing workflows and branding.
Staff training can be fast with TrueOrder, thanks to its modern user experience that uses intuitive touch control panels and convenient bump bars. If someone can use a smartphone, they can navigate TrueOrder.
Ordering up a streamlined future
A KDS helps to streamline the connection between front and back of house operations, optimizing restaurant efficiency so meals are delivered on time to happy customers, even when a rush begins. But when making the leap, restaurants must be sure that their chosen system simply works, shift after shift, without technical or commercial trade-offs.
TrueOrder KDS is a robust, convenient and affordable QSR technology solution that stands out from the competition. It helps QSRs to maximize efficiency without the headaches that can often plague other systems.
Contact Epson to learn more about how TrueOrder KDS can revolutionize your restaurant.
