What are Bump Bars?

A bump bar is a specific type of keypad used in the kitchen of a restaurant to handle and organize incoming orders from the KDS (kitchen display system). These help kitchen staff interact with digital tickets without needing to touch a screen or use a mouse.

These are often seen in-

• Quick service restaurants
• Fast casual restaurants
• High-volume restaurant operations
• Drive-thru restaurants
• Ghost kitchens and delivery-focused restaurants

The kitchen staff is designed to cook more efficiently during the busy service times.

How Do Bump Bars Work?

Bump bars are connected to the restaurant's kitchen display system. These bump bars typically attach near a prep or cooking station.

Here’s how the process typically works-

• A customer order is input into the POS system.
• The ticket will display on the kitchen display screen.
• Staff make up the ticket.
• When the individual item or the order is complete, the staff presses the appropriate buttons on the bump bar.
• The ticket is automatically marked off, removed from the screen, or sent to the next step on the kitchen display screen.

The term “bump” means removing or clearing an order ticket from the kitchen display after completion.