Kitchen Display System in Odoo 18 Point of Sale

Restaurant chaos begins in the kitchen when order tickets pile up, verbal shouts get lost in noise, and staff can't tell which orders are urgent. Paper tickets get wet, illegible, or lost—resulting in wrong orders, delays, and frustrated customers. Odoo 18's Kitchen Display System (KDS) eliminates this chaos by providing digital order displays that sync in real-time with your Point of Sale, showing kitchen staff exactly what to cook, when to cook it, and when orders are ready for pickup.

This comprehensive guide walks you through setting up dual-screen kitchen displays—one for staff to track preparation stages, and one customer-facing screen showing order status for self-service pickup—transforming kitchen operations from chaotic to streamlined.

Understanding the Kitchen Display System

Odoo 18's Kitchen Display module includes two synchronized screens:

Step 1: Install Kitchen Display Module

1. Navigate to Apps menu
2. Search for "Kitchen Display"
3. Click Install
4. Module installs with Point of Sale dependencies

Step 2: Access Kitchen Display Dashboard

1. Navigate: Open Kitchen Display module from app menu
2. Dashboard View: Shows:
   • List of configured kitchen displays
   • In Progress orders count
   • Average preparation time per display
   • Quick access buttons to Preparation and Status screens

Step 3: Create Kitchen Display Configuration

Configure separate displays for different kitchen stations (e.g., Grill Station, Fryer Station, Salad Bar).

Creating New Display

1. Create Display: From dashboard, click New button
2. Display Name: Enter descriptive name (e.g., "Grill Station Display", "Main Kitchen Screen")
3. Point of Sale: Select which POS session this display monitors
4. Product Categories: Choose categories this station prepares
   • Example: Grill displays "Burgers", "Steaks"
   • Fryer displays "Fries", "Fried Chicken"
   • Salad Bar displays "Salads", "Cold Appetizers"

Configuring Preparation Stages

In the Stages tab, define workflow progression with visual indicators:

Step 4: Process Orders Through POS

When customers place orders at the Point of Sale, items automatically appear on the kitchen display.

Example Order Flow

1. Customer Orders: At POS, cashier creates order:
   • 1x Burger Menu Combo
   • Contains: Cheeseburger + Minute Maid drink
2. Kitchen Notes: Cashier adds special instructions:
   • Type: "Make it fast" in kitchen notes field
   • Notes appear on kitchen display for staff visibility
3. Payment Processing: Customer completes payment
4. Token Generation: System generates order token/number
   • Customer receives receipt with order number
   • Token used for pickup tracking
5. Display Updates: Order instantly appears on kitchen display in "To Cook" stage

Step 5: Using the Preparation Display

Kitchen staff use this screen to track and update order progress.

Accessing Preparation Screen

1. From Kitchen Display dashboard, click Preparation Screen button
2. Screen opens in fullscreen mode (recommended for dedicated kitchen monitor)

Preparation Screen Layout

Moving Orders Through Stages

1. Start Cooking: Tap/click order card in "To Cook" to move to "Cooking" stage
2. Mark Ready: When preparation complete, move to "Ready" stage
3. Complete Order: After customer pickup, click Done or move to "Completed"

Step 6: Customer Order Status Screen

This screen displays order numbers for customer self-service pickup, typically mounted on a wall facing the dining area.

Accessing Order Status Screen

1. From Kitchen Display dashboard, click Order Status Screen button
2. Screen opens in customer-facing view
3. Mount on second monitor or TV visible to customers

What Customers See

Workflow Example: Complete Order Journey

Benefits for Restaurant Operations

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Odoo 18's Kitchen Display System transforms chaotic restaurant operations into streamlined workflows. By replacing paper tickets and verbal communication with real-time digital displays, kitchens gain visibility into order status, customers get clear pickup notifications, and managers track preparation time analytics—all integrated seamlessly with your Point of Sale.

Whether you're running a quick-service restaurant, food court, or full-service dining establishment, the dual-screen approach (preparation display + customer status screen) improves order accuracy, speeds up service, and enhances the overall dining experience.