KDS order preview before complete of transcation

[Bagelman1028]

Hello everyone, so I need kitchen experts help!  Right now I have three kds for by coffee/bagel shop!  My question is there a way where orders can start to display as cashier is punching in the orders!  For example, if a customer is ordering 5 different drinks, I want my staff to start making the orders as cashier is punching in the pos! Right now we have to wait until the whole order has been paid for, before we can even start making the drinks, its stupid my crew just have to wait for like 3 minutes until the transcation has been completed, instead we should have the ability to start making the orders as we are putting it into the register, Im hoping if theres a way to fix this! 

Please Help

[TheRealChipA]

Hi @Bagelman1028. For good or for ill, this is the way all KDS systems work. I’ve used a half dozen over the years, and the way Square does it is the way everyone does it. Part of it has to do with the distributed hardware architecture of POS systems like Square. 

In my case (an ice cream shop), I would not want what you describe. Why? Because people change their mind a lot. If we started making something too soon, we’d be wasting a lot of product. 

That being said. I can give you a work around and it’s the only one there is. When I have a really big order, we first tell the guests that we will be making each item as it is ordered, so no changes allowed. Then, after each item, we hit the Send button, then bring the ticket back up and add the next item and send it. Etc. Of course to do this you will have to have the open checks feature enabled. 

That’s the best you’ll be able to get. 

[TheRealChipA]

 I forgot to add this. If you want to, head over to the Feature Request board and create a feature request.

Ask The KDS team to consider giving us an account-wide option to send items to the KDS after each item is added to a cart, like your described. 

I’ll point out a few drawbacks for you to consider first. 

• Like me, you have to consider that customer #1  decides they want a small after ordering a large you already have prepared. What do you do?
•  The only customer in the group with a card to pay has their card declined and no one has cash after half of the items are already made? What do you do?

 Your idea has merit. But it also has dangers.