Order‑Ready Screens in 2025: What They Are, Why They Matter, and What’s New
The Power of Transparent Wait Times
In today’s fast‑paced dining world, wait time transparency is no longer a nice‑to‑have—it’s expected. Order‑ready screens make the wait visible, informative, and stress‑reducing. By showing order numbers, estimated pickup times, or even guest names, these displays help customers stay engaged and relaxed while waiting for their food.
How Order‑Ready Screens Fit Into Modern Restaurant Tech
Order‑ready screens are typically an extension of a robust Kitchen Display System (KDS). They communicate with the kitchen in real time, notifying guests the moment their order is ready. Whether integrated through ConnectSmart® Kitchen or a third-party system, these displays reduce confusion, improve service efficiency, and reinforce brand consistency across the guest journey.
Who Benefits from Order‑Ready Screens?
For Guests
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Peace of mind: Seeing where their order stands keeps guests calm and reduces perceived wait times.
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Freedom to roam: Customers can step away without fear of missing their number.
For Staff & Operators
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Less chaos: Staff don’t have to yell out names or search for missing guests.
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Fewer errors: Displays reduce incorrect handoffs or missed orders.
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Smarter staffing: Real-time order data helps optimize throughput and labor during peaks.
Placement & Visibility: Key Design Considerations
Where you put your order‑ready screen matters:
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Visibility: Position displays near the pickup counter or waiting area to avoid bottlenecks.
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Height: Keep it eye-level or slightly above to ensure it’s readable even in a crowd.
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Brand presence: Customize screens with your logo, font, or animation loop for a cohesive guest experience.
What to Look for in a 2025 Order‑Ready Screen Solution
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Real-Time Sync with Kitchen Tech
Your order board should pull directly from your KDS, updating the moment food is marked as ready. This eliminates confusion and removes manual steps for staff. -
Customizable Interface
Flexible screen design means you can highlight order names, numbers, or even ready time countdowns. Whether you want a polished, fast-casual feel or a clean, minimalist look, modern systems allow you to match your brand’s tone. -
Food Waste Reduction
When guests know exactly when to return for their food, it reduces abandoned or spoiled items—especially in busy off-premise scenarios. -
Data & Operational Insights
With modern solutions like ConnectSmart®, you can view historical ticket time data and identify trends in wait time, guest pickup delays, or bottlenecks. This informs training and helps benchmark performance.
2025 Trends & Case Study Spotlights
Mellow Mushroom’s Off‑Premise Transparency Boost
Mellow Mushroom recently teamed up with Curbit and QSR Automations to create a fully connected, transparent experience for off-premise guests. By integrating ConnectSmart® Kitchen with real-time text updates, they were able to:
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Cut perceived wait times by 32%
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Reduce walkaway orders by 22%
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Send SMS updates like “Your pizza is in the oven” or “Your order is now ready,” triggered directly by kitchen screen activity
Data-Driven Promise Time Adjustments
Restaurants using ConnectSmart® Kitchen with order-ready boards and AI-powered tools (like Curbit) can now dynamically adjust promise times based on kitchen capacity. This means more accurate pickup estimates during peak hours—no more underpromising or overpromising.
According to Hospitality Tech, restaurants using real-time kitchen data to influence guest messaging saw:
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A 12% improvement in on-time pickups
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A 17% reduction in guest complaints related to delays
Example Tech Stack
| Component | Role |
|---|---|
| Kitchen Display System (KDS) | Tracks orders, stages prep, and flags items as “Ready” |
| Order-Ready Display Board | Public-facing screen showing guest names, numbers, or timers |
| Staff Alert Screen | BOH or FOH screen for monitoring ready orders |
| Messaging Platform | Sends real-time SMS or app alerts to guests |
Why Order‑Ready Screens Still Matter in 2025
Order‑ready screens offer restaurants a seamless way to:
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Boost guest satisfaction through clarity and convenience
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Reduce staff burden and streamline order handoff
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Minimize food waste by encouraging timely pickups
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Create a modern, scalable experience that fits dine-in, takeout, and digital ordering
Final Thoughts
If you’re re-evaluating your tech stack this year, order‑ready screens should be high on the list. They’re not just display boards—they’re a frontline communication tool between your kitchen, staff, and guests. When paired with a reliable KDS like ConnectSmart® Kitchen, they help your restaurant deliver smoother service, smarter operations, and happier customers—day in, day out.
Curious how they’d work in your space? Let’s talk.
About the Author
Caitlin Soard is a Content Marketing Strategist with over seven years of marketing experience under her belt. She joined the QSR Automations marketing team in June of 2022 and has been hard at work improving their social media and content ever since. She attended Franklin College where she received a Bachelor of Arts, focusing in Journalism and Public Relations as well as minoring in English. When she’s not lending her social media wizardry to QSR Automations, you can find her playing Dungeons & Dragons or TCGs at her local card shop, enjoying live local music, or spending time with her cat and two dogs, Ellie, Laney, and Orryn.
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