A Kitchen Order Ticket (KOT) is essential to running a restaurant. It helps the waitstaff and kitchen communicate effectively by listing what each customer has ordered. The KOT includes details like the table number, special requests and who took the order. This way, the kitchen knows what to cook and how the customer wants it. By using KOTs, restaurants can ensure correct orders are served and keep customers happy.
An automated KOT system or kitchen management software reduces manual errors by a large percentage. It also increases accuracy, saves time, and helps management track all orders in real-time.
It is essential for restaurants using manual KOTs to switch to an automated system to reduce discrepancies. A Point of Sale system is installed at the service desk, and KOT printers are set up in the kitchen and bar. When an order is placed, it generates a note kitchen and billing. It contains details such as the table number, items ordered and special requests. It's important that the kitchen staff carefully follow the printed KOT to ensure the correct preparation and delivery of food.
Kitchen display system vs KOT
A Kitchen Display System and a Kitchen Order Ticket serve similar purposes in restaurants but differ in their approach.
A KDS is a digital screen in the kitchen that displays orders in real-time as they are entered into the restaurant's POS system. It streamlines operations by tracking order status and managing timing efficiently. The KDS reduces paper waste and allows more accessible updates or changes to orders.
A KOT is a physical or digital slip communicating orders to the kitchen. In manual systems, they are written on paper and sent to the kitchen. They are less efficient and can lead to errors and waste. Automated KOTs are digital and more accurate.
Kitchen Order Ticket Sample
Order Number: #122
Date:
Time: (AM/PM)
Table Number:
Server Name:
Items Ordered:
Grilled Chicken Sandwich- No onions. Add cheese
Green Salad- Dressing on the side
Tomato Soup- Extra croutons
Iced Tea- No ice
Special Instructions:
Total Items: 4
Priority:
Why is an Automated KOT Important For Restaurant Business?
Convenience
In a manual system, every order is written on a pad with carbon paper. One copy of the kitchen order ticket booking goes to the kitchen, another to billing, and the third stays in the pad. At the end of the day, these kitchen ticket orders are sent to the audit department for tallying; this can be time-consuming.
Handling operations manually can lead to errors and food wastage.
Kitchen management software makes this process very easy. The orders are punched into the system, generating the KOT automatically. It also acts as a kitchen inventory system and ensures that inventory management is done correctly.
Restaurant POS systems have touchscreen features, so they are easy to use, and staff don't need special training. With little on-site training, they can quickly start using the automated KOT system.
Speeds Up The Service
A Kitchen Order Ticket system increases a restaurant's speed of operation because orders are entered directly at the service desk and printed in the kitchen. With a manual KOT system, someone has to run back and forth between the kitchen and the service area each time an order is placed.
Automated restaurant ordering software saves much time, so orders reach customers faster. This not only increases customer satisfaction but also encourages repeat business.
Easy Online Ordering Integration
One big challenge restaurants face is handling online orders from platforms like Swiggy and Zomato. If your restaurant's POS system is manual, online orders may be delayed or missed, so they might not be sent to the kitchen for preparation.
When automated restaurant ordering software is connected to a kitchen order ticket system, online orders are received directly at the POS. The KOT is generated and printed in the kitchen immediately, ensuring that every order is handled quickly.
Real-Time Reports
An automated kitchen order ticket system allows management to access real-time reports that help to monitor their business, thus increasing their control over it. Also, management's efforts are eased in the case of chains of restaurants with outlets in multiple locations as they can keep the operations in check by putting their business in the cloud.
Brings Down the Errors
As the restaurant owner has the details of everyday stock and sales at their fingertips, this decreases and eliminates any chance of profit leak. The owners know which raw materials are in stock and what needs to be ordered. In departments, thefts can also be controlled as the owners can keep a check on the inflow and outflow of raw materials.
Reduced Reliance on Manual Labour
When the restaurant uses a manual system, it is the responsibility of the wait staff to check the KOT repeatedly. However, when a restaurant uses automated restaurant kitchen software like the KOT system, it reduces the need for manual tasks, which causes labour costs to be brought down.
Minimum Investment
The kitchen order ticket machines are easy to set up and don't take up much space. Most of these systems come with an annual subscription, and you can mount the computers on the wall at the service desk.
You won't need to spend a lot when you add billing apps that work with the KOT feature. These systems are usually affordable and can significantly improve how your business runs, helping you earn more money.
Kitchen Order Ticket System- Hotelogix POS
Hotelogix hotel POS system provides comprehensive management for various services at your property by allowing you to set up unlimited 'Point of Sale' (POS) outlets. This versatile system helps you efficiently manage multiple areas such as restaurants, mini bars, spas, travel desks, and more.
Hotelogix's advanced POS system offers several options for handling orders. Orders can be sold directly to guests at the point of sale, transferred to their room as "Room Service," or billed directly to a company account. This flexibility ensures all transactions are processed smoothly and accurately, enhancing guest satisfaction and operational efficiency. The cloud-based nature of Hotelogix's POS software means it is accessible from anywhere, making it easy to oversee and manage your property's various service points from a single, integrated platform.
Hotelogix understands that it can be quite a task for restaurants to run seamlessly without a system in place. And that's why Hotelogix PMS and its POS module can be integrated with almost every KOT.
Once you integrate KOT with the PMS, your orders will reach the respective kitchen and be printed for the items to be prepared quickly. You can also add different kitchens (E.g.: Indian, Chinese, Continental etc.) and link the printers in each kitchen to the POS itself. All the items in the menu will be linked to a specific kitchen from which the items will be prepared.