How to Set Up a KDS in Connect

  • Updated
Follow

To create a Kitchen Display System (KDS), follow these steps:

  1. Create a Vendor Role
  2. Create a Vendor (and Subvendor, if desired)
  3. Create Permissions Set for a KDS Account
  4. Create an Employee Role for a KDS Account
  5. Create a KDS subvendor Account
  6. Perform a test login to ensure it is set up correctly by logging into Activate, placing an order, and then logging into the KDS app to see if the order appears.
  7. If the order does not appear on the KDS, check the settings to ensure that the KDS was set up properly. 

How to create a KDS Vendor

Once the Vendor Role has been created, the KDS Vendor (or Subvendor) can be created.

  1. Log in to Connect and click on 'Vendors' on the left side menu.
  2. Click on 'Create' in the upper right corner. 
  3. Enter in the name of the KDS Vendor and select the appropriate Vendor Role. 
  4. Ensure 'Auto Complete' is set to 'YES.'
  5. Click 'Save Changes' in the upper right corner.
  6. Search for and select the newly created Vendor.
  7. Scroll down to 'Auto Complete Minute' to select between 00 and 60 minutes. This will cause the order to submit as Pending on the KDS until either marked 'Complete,' or the specified timeframe expires.
    • Commonly used timeframes are 20 or 30 minutes or the average for how long it will take to prep the items from the order. 
  8. Click 'Save Changes' in the upper right corner. 

How to create a Subvendor

If there is a Vendor that has both food and drink and the food needs to be prepared in the kitchen and the drinks at the bar, there will need to be a Subvendor for each location to separate the items.

  1. Log in to Connect and click on 'Vendors' from the left side menu.
  2. Find the KDS Vendor and then click 'Add Sub' next to it.
  3. On the 'Subvendor Settings' tab, set 'Auto Complete' to 'YES.'
  4. Click 'Save Changes' in the upper right corner.
  5. Search for and select the newly created Subvendor.
  6. Scroll down to 'Auto Complete Minute' to select between 00 and 60 minutes. This will cause the order to submit as Pending on the KDS until either marked 'Complete,' or the specified timeframe expires.
    • Commonly used timeframes are 20 or 30 minutes or the average for how long it will take to prep the items from the order. 
  7. Click 'Save Changes' in the upper right corner to save changes.  

    SubVendor.png

Note: Once a Subvendor has been made, a Subvendor Account will need to be created to access it. This process is similar to creating a Vendor KDS account, however, for the 'Type,' be sure to select 'Subvendor.'

How to create KDS Permissions Sets

A KDS specific Permissions Sets will need to be created for the vendor and subvendor accounts.

  1. Log in to Connect and click on 'Options' on the left side menu.
  2. Click on 'Permissions Sets' from the 'Options' drop-down and click 'Add Set' in the upper right corner. 
  3. Add the name of the Permissions Sets and then edit the KDS tab.
  4. Click 'Save' and the KDS Permissions Sets will be created.

Note: To edit additional KDS options within the Permissions Sets, click on the 'KDS' tab once it has been created.

How to create a KDS Account 

Once the Permissions Sets for the KDS has been created, the KDS Account can be created.

  1. Log in to Connect and select 'Accounts' from the left side menu.
  2. Click 'Add Account' in the top right corner. 
  3. Fill out the Type, Login ID, and Password. Be sure to select 'Vendor' or 'Subvendor' as the Type, which will open up more options.
  4. Enter the Admin PIN and select the Permissions Sets. 
  5. Click on the 'Choose Vendor' tab and use the toggles to 'Assign' or 'Unassign' Vendors.
  6. Hit 'Save Changes' and the account will be active.

Autocomplete and Cell Timer Notes:

  • If 'Auto Complete' is set to 'Yes' and 'Auto Complete Minutes' to '00,' the order will not go to the KDS Pending tab and will auto complete once the order has been placed.
  • If the order needs to go to the KDS for a certain amount of time before autocompleting, click 'Yes' on 'Autocomplete' and set the 'Auto Complete Minute' appropriately.
  • If orders need to be manually completed at the KDS, set 'Auto Complete' to 'No.'
  • Once an order has been placed, it will appear and print on the KDS and the paired printer. After the set time, the cell timer will let the employee know that the order needs to be completed by blinking the time counter yellow and then red. 

Related articles