What Is Order Routing?

An order routing system uses a POS system to automatically route specific portions of a customer's order to the correct prep station (i.e., kitchen, bar, or dessert) for preparation.

Order routing is an essential component of kitchen operation. It helps in:

• Ensure that the order is sent to the proper team and station to prepare
• Eliminate confusion or delays during peak hours
• Enhance cooperation between the front-of-house and kitchen personnel
• Increase service speed and accuracy of orders.

The POS will identify every item in an order and send it to the proper stations based on predefined rules. For example, drinks will go to the bar, appetizer tickets will be sent to the kitchen section, while dessert will go to another section. Orders are either displayed on Kitchen Display Systems (KDS) or printed as separate ticket orders for each station.

For example, a single combined order is where you have ordered a cocktail, then you also ordered a main meal, and lastly a dessert. All orders that fall under one transaction type will be sent to the appropriate area at the same time. Therefore, everything will be cooked and served in the correct manner and on time.