As grocery perimeter businesses—like the deli, bakery, catering, floral, and made-to-order departments—expand to meet increasing customer demand, managing operations efficiently has become more challenging. Shoppers now expect the convenience of omnichannel ordering, whether online, via mobile apps, or in-store kiosks, across these departments. To meet these demands while maintaining operational quality, grocers can borrow a critical tool from restaurants: the Kitchen Display System (KDS). By implementing a KDS, grocers can streamline order management, improve communication between departments, and enhance overall workflow efficiency, delivering a better experience to customers while simplifying operations for the retailer.
A KDS is the ideal solution for consolidating omnichannel orders in grocery environments. Much like in restaurants, where online, dine-in, and delivery orders funnel into one system, a KDS in a grocery store ensures all orders—whether they come from an e-commerce platform, in-store kiosk, smart shopping cart or mobile app—are centralized into a single interface. For example, a customer may place a catering order online and when they come into the store for pickup, also order a freshly made sandwich directly on the Caper smart shopping cart. With a KDS in place, these orders are automatically distributed to the relevant department, eliminating confusion and streamlining production and fulfillment. This centralization reduces order errors and ensures grocers can meet their customers' growing omnichannel demands, resulting in increased customer satisfaction and loyalty.
One of the greatest advantages of a KDS is its ability to surface orders automatically to the appropriate grocery department. For example, a catering tray ordered online would be sent directly to the deli KDS, while a bouquet purchased for immediate pickup would route to the floral department KDS. Without a KDS, these orders often require manual communication, creating opportunities for delays and errors. By automating this process, grocers can eliminate bottlenecks, reduce employee workload, and ensure that all orders are handled by the correct team without any extra coordination. With multiple departments often handling customized or time-sensitive orders, this level of efficiency is essential.
In high-demand areas like the deli or bakery, a KDS provides employees with clear, real-time visibility into upcoming orders, helping them prioritize tasks and stay on schedule. For example, deli staff can see a queue of made-to-order sandwich requests, ensuring every customer receives their meal fresh and on time. Similarly, bakery personnel can manage custom cake orders with precise delivery times and instructions. Because the KDS eliminates the need for paper tickets and manual tracking, it reduces errors, speeds up workflows, and optimizes productivity. By leveraging this level of queue management, grocers can sustain high-volume production while maintaining accuracy and quality.
The implementation of a KDS does more than just improve internal operations—it creates a better overall experience for customers. Faster, more accurate order fulfillment ensures customers can rely on their grocer for event and holiday catering, daily meals, or last-minute floral arrangements for that special occasion. FoodStorm’s KDS even enables grocers to offer order-tracking tools, allowing customers to receive updates on progress or pickup times for their purchases. By leaning into this technology, grocers can enhance customer satisfaction while building stronger loyalty to their brand.
As shopper expectations continue to evolve, grocery stores must embrace technology like Kitchen Display Systems to keep up. Borrowing this efficiency-driven tool from the restaurant industry can transform perimeter operations, from deli and bakery to floral and catering. With the ability to support omnichannel ordering, streamline order routing, and enhance production workflows, a KDS empowers grocers to meet modern demands with ease. The future of grocery operations lies in adopting smart, customer-focused technologies that create seamless, efficient experiences for both shoppers and employees alike.
Find out how FoodStorm’s KDS for grocers can take your perimeter businesses to the next level.
