The High Cost of Low Tech: How Outdated KDS Systems are Holding Restaurants Back

Today’s restaurant patron expects both speed and accuracy, which means restaurants need to be on the ball when it comes to efficiency. Whether you run a high-volume quick-service restaurant (QSR) or a full-service establishment, the right technology can make or break your operations. Yet, many restaurants still use paper-based ordering systems or outdated kitchen display systems (KDS) that slow down service, create bottlenecks and errors, and hurt the bottom line. The solution? Upgrade your outdated kitchen display system!

If your KDS isn’t keeping up with today’s food service demands, it’s costing you more than you think. Let’s explore how outdated technology is holding restaurants back, and how modern solutions like ConnectSmart® Kitchen can drive efficiency, accuracy, and profitability.

Slow Service = Wasted Revenue

It’s the dinner-time rush, the orders are piling up, and every second counts. An outdated KDS system can slow down the entire kitchen, costing you valuable time and money. Whether it be lagging screens, limited functionality, or poor POS system integration, the result is the same: Orders are delayed, ticket times are growing, and the staff and your hungry customers are becoming increasingly frustrated.

Customers expect fast, accurate service – especially in high-volume environments like a QSR. If your kitchen is struggling to keep up, diners may take their business elsewhere, costing you valuable revenue.

Increased Order Errors = Wasted Food

An outdated kitchen display system (or worse, a paper ticket system), can also lead to miscommunication between the front and back of house. If orders don’t display correctly or modifications are missed, food is sent back, orders need to be remade, and food waste piles up.

Modern KDS software, like ConnectSmart® Kitchen, ensures clear, real-time communication across the kitchen, reducing mistakes and cutting down on costly food waste.

Poor Integration = Wasted Opportunity

From POS systems and online ordering platforms to inventory management tools and more, restaurants are investing substantially in technology to help them operate smoothly.

But what happens when those systems don’t seamlessly integrate? The restaurant experiences inefficiencies, frustrated employees, and a missed opportunity to leverage the data and insights an integrated KDS provides.

A KDS system that connects with your entire restaurant ecosystem is worth investing in to ensure a smoother operation – from order entry to fulfillment. ConnectSmart® Kitchen is the only KDS system on the market that seamlessly integrates with over 80 POS systems, ensuring your restaurant remains efficient and profitable and allowing your staff to focus on the guest experience.

Ready to upgrade your outdated kitchen display system? Discover how ConnectSmart® Kitchen can streamline efficiency, reduce errors, and boost your restaurant’s bottom line.

---

About the Author

Caitlin Soard is a Content Marketing Strategist with over seven years of marketing experience under her belt. She joined the QSR Automations marketing team in June of 2022 and has been hard at work improving their social media and content ever since. She attended Franklin College where she received a Bachelor of Arts, focusing in Journalism and Public Relations as well as minoring in English. When she’s not lending her social media wizardry to QSR Automations, you can find her playing Dungeons & Dragons or TCGs at her local card shop, enjoying live local music, or spending time with her cat and two dogs, Ellie, Laney, and Orryn.