Station Routing
Route order items to specific kitchen stations automatically
Station Routing
Route order items to the correct kitchen stations automatically. When a customer orders a burger, salad, and beer — the burger goes to the grill screen, the salad to prep, and the beer to the bar.
What is Station Routing?
Station routing splits an order's items across multiple kitchen displays based on which station prepares each item:
| Item | Routes To |
|---|---|
| Burgers, steaks | Grill station |
| Salads, cold starters | Cold Prep station |
| Drinks, cocktails | Bar station |
| Desserts, pastries | Pastry station |
Each kitchen display device is assigned to one station and only shows relevant items.
Setting Up Stations
Create Stations in Partner Portal
- Go to Partner Portal → Settings → Kitchen Stations
- Click Add Station
- Name the station clearly (e.g., "Grill", "Cold Prep", "Bar" — not "Station 1")
- Save and repeat for each station
Assign Menu Items to Stations
- Go to Partner Portal → Menu Management
- Edit a menu item
- Under Kitchen Station, select the station that prepares this item
- Save and repeat for all items
New menu items default to no station, which means they appear on ALL kitchen displays. Always assign a station when adding new items.
Configure Each KDS Device
- On each kitchen display device, log in
- Go to Settings → Station
- Select the station this device handles
- The device will now only show items for that station
Test with a Sample Order
Place a test order with items from multiple stations. Verify each station's display shows only its items. See Live Updates to confirm sync is working.
How It Works
When an order is placed, the routing engine splits items by station:
Order: 1x Burger, 1x Caesar Salad, 1x Beer
↓ Routing Engine ↓
Grill Station: → 1x Burger
Cold Prep Station: → 1x Caesar Salad
Bar Station: → 1x BeerEach station sees only their items. The order is complete when ALL stations have finished their portion.
Multi-Station Order Coordination
For orders that span multiple stations:
- Each station sees their portion of the order
- Each station marks their items ready independently
- Order auto-completes when the last station finishes
- Progress is visible — all stations can see overall completion percentage
Multi-station coordination means the grill doesn't need to wait for the bar. Each station works at their own pace, and the system tracks overall progress.
Station Display Options
Show Only My Items
Clean, focused view. You see only items your station prepares. Best for high-volume kitchens.
Show Full Order (My Items Highlighted)
See the entire order with your items highlighted. Gives context — you know what the customer ordered alongside your items. Good for quality checks.
Bump Behavior
| Setting | Behavior |
|---|---|
| Auto-bump | Order disappears from your screen when your items are done |
| Wait for all | Order stays visible until every station completes |
| Manual bump | You control when to remove — tap Bump when ready |
Configure in Settings → Station → Bump Behavior.
Special Stations
Expeditor Station
A special station that sees ALL orders regardless of item assignment. Used by a kitchen manager or expeditor to:
- Monitor overall order flow
- Identify bottlenecks across stations
- Coordinate timing for multi-station orders
- Call out completed orders to front-of-house
Unassigned Items
Items without a station assignment either:
- Appear on ALL kitchen displays (default)
- Appear on a designated "General" station
Regularly review your menu for unassigned items. When you add new menu items, always assign them to a station — otherwise they'll clutter every screen.
Best Practices
| Tip | Why |
|---|---|
| Name stations clearly | "Grill" is better than "Station 1" — easier for new staff |
| Review after menu changes | New items need station assignments |
| Test before busy service | Place a test order to verify routing works |
| Have an expeditor station | One screen showing all orders helps coordination |
| Keep station count manageable | 3–5 stations is typical. Too many adds complexity. |
Troubleshooting
| Problem | Solution |
|---|---|
| Item on wrong station | Edit the item in Partner Portal → Menu and change its station |
| Item appears on all stations | Assign it to a specific station in Menu Management |
| Order not appearing | Check filter settings on the device |
| Station missing from list | Create it in Partner Portal → Settings → Kitchen Stations |
| Some items missing from my station | Verify item has the correct station assigned in Menu Management |
| Order won't bump | In multi-station mode, all stations must finish before the order bumps. Check other stations' progress. |