KDS 2.0 is the latest version of our Kitchen Display System (as of January 2024).

To use KDS 2.0, you need to sign up for our beta program. Contact your Sales Account Manager or email sales@lightspeedhq.com to ask about add Lightspeed KDS.

After setting up the Lightspeed Kitchen Display System (KDS), learn how to operate the KDS in receipt and production modes, clear all items from the screen and re-sync the latest Back Office configuration, and view reporting on KDS usage.

Using receipt mode

In receipt mode, each order appears as a separate tile on the KDS. Follow the steps in this section to learn how to operate the KDS in this mode, mark orders as completed, and remove them from the screen.

1. In the Restaurant POS app, send or pay for a Direct Sale or Table Service order, fire a course, or receive an online order.
2. Each order will automatically appear on the KDS as a separate tile sorted into two sides: pending (left) and ready for pickup or delivery (right). The KDS will also play a bell sound to alert staff.
   Each tile shows the:

   • Name, quantity, and production instructions for order items
   • Number of minutes since the order was placed
   • Course numbers (if applicable), with unfired courses shown in gray 
   • Order number (pickup and delivery only) or floor plan and table number (table orders only)
   • Delivery or pickup information, including a paper bag (pickup) or truck symbol (delivery), customer name, number of minutes until the order is scheduled to be picked up or delivered, and customer location (delivery only)

   Lightspeed Restaurant

   

   Lightspeed KDS

   

    

3. Staff prepare the orders shown on the KDS.
   
   Orders display in the order they were placed, from left (oldest) to right (newest). They also gradually change from green (zero minutes) to red (fifty minutes or more) until completed.
4. (Optional) Scroll through the last column on the KDS as needed to view additional orders.
5. When finished preparing an order, follow steps 5a–5c to update its status.
   
   1. Tap the order. 
   2. For pickup and delivery orders, select Ready for delivery or Ready for pickup to move the order to the right side of the screen.
   3. For table orders, select Remove from screen to remove the order from the KDS.
      
      Depending on your KDS print settings, a chit may automatically print when an order is marked ready or removed from the screen to alert front-of-house staff.
   
6. After an order is delivered or picked up, tap the order again on the KDS. Select Remove from screen to remove it from the KDS.
   
   If a printing profile is assigned to the KDS, a chit will automatically print to let front-of-house staff know the item is ready.
7. An employee continues processing the order on the POS as usual.

Using production mode

In production mode, each unique item ordered appears as a separate tile on the screen of the KDS. Follow the steps in this section to learn how to operate the KDS in this mode, including removing items from the screen when they are completed.

1. In the Restaurant POS app, send or pay for a Direct Sale or Table Service order, fire a course, or receive an online order.
2. Each unique order item will automatically appear on the KDS as a separate tile sorted into one of four columns by the first letter of the item name. The KDS will also play a bell sound to alert staff.
   
   Each tile shows the:

   • Name and production instructions for the item
   • Total quantity to be prepared for all orders and individual quantities needed for each order
   • Number of minutes since the item was first ordered and since it was last ordered

   Lightspeed Restaurant

   

   Lightspeed KDS

   

    

3. Staff prepare the items shown on the KDS.
   
   Items will gradually change from green (zero minutes) to red (fifty minutes or more) on the KDS until they are finished.
4. (Optional) Scroll through each column on the KDS as needed to view additional items.
5. When finished preparing an item, tap the item on the KDS and select a quantity to acknowledge as prepared.
   • If a printing profile is assigned to the KDS, a chit will automatically print to let front-of-house staff know the item is ready.
   • A history of recently acknowledged items is available at the bottom of the KDS. 
   
6. An employee continues processing the order on the POS as usual.

Clearing and reloading the KDS

Clear the screen of the KDS to remove all orders or items from it, such as when orders are remaining at the end of the business day. Reload the KDS whenever you make a change to it in the Back Office to re-sync it with the latest configuration.

1. On the KDS, tap Actions.
   
   
2. Select Clear all or Reload. 
   • Clear all: Removes all orders or items from the screen of the KDS.  
   • Reload: Re-syncs the KDS with the Back Office to get the most updated configuration.

Viewing KDS reporting

In the Back Office, view the KDS Statistics report to learn how quickly items are prepared in the kitchen on an item-by-item basis. 

1. Log in to the Back Office with your Lightspeed Restaurant account credentials.
2. From the navigation menu, go to Reports > Reports.
3. Select the KDS Statistics report.

What's next?