Overview
The Tablet Production Report in CaterZen is a Catering Kitchen Display System that streamlines kitchen operations by providing a real-time digital solution for managing catering production. The Tablet Production Reports help your team efficiently track and execute orders without relying on paper tickets. This Catering KDS eliminates the need for printed production sheets and allows the kitchen team to view, manage, and complete orders on a touchscreen device. The system updates dynamically, ensuring that any modifications to an order reflect immediately. This enhance accuracy, reduce errors, and improve overall kitchen workflow.
CaterZen customers have found that using the Tablet Reports helps in several different ways:
Live Order Updates – Orders update automatically as changes are made by the sales team or management.
Real-Time Management – At any point in time, a manager can check what menu items have been prepped for the day's upcoming orders.
Organized Workflow – The kitchen staff prefers having all order prepping details in one place instead of scattered across multiple paper tickets that can easily be lost.
Station-Specific Focus – A tablet can be placed at each station, allowing team members to concentrate solely on the food they need to prep.
- Total Production Views – Allows staff to group like items across multiple orders for efficient prep.
Important Note: The Tablet Production Report will not generate data if formulas have not been configured in the Configure Kitchen and Production Report section of CaterZen. If you need assistance setting this up, you can schedule a session at: BookTimeWithJill.com.
We recommend purchasing an affordable tablet for kitchen use and a stylus for staff to interact with the tablet. This helps keep the tablet clean when hands are messy.
Accessing the Tablet Production Reports
To access the reports, follow these steps:
Log in to CaterZen on your designated tablet.
Navigate to the More Tab from the main dashboard. Then click on Reports.
Choose Tablet Production Report
You can customize your report by selecting:
Date Selection: You can only select one day at a time for the report.
Location – Choose a specific location if you have multiple.
Item Display – View Items Only or Using Formulas (default).
Formula Placement – Show formulas under each food category (default) or each food station.
Category Breakdown – Option to group categories into stations.
Category Filtering – Show all categories or select a specific one.
Sorting Options – Sort by Serve Time (default) or change to Kitchen Ready Time, Driver Pick-Up Time, or Order Ready Time.
Time Range – Display orders within a specific range.
Once selections are made, click Show Report to generate it.
Navigating the Report
The report will show each order in yellow at the top.
Below, you will see a total of all the menu prep items needed for the orders, organized by food categories.
Starting Prep for a Specific Order
Double-check the menu items ordered by clicking the Order Items tab. The menu items and their choices will appear.
Click on the order you want to work with.
You will now see the categories for each menu item that needs to be prepped.
Click on the category you are prepping. The menu items for that category will appear below.
As you complete prepping and packing a menu item, click on it. The item will turn green, and a checkmark will appear.
Repeat for each menu item. Once all items in a category are complete, the category will turn green.
Continue for each category and menu item. When all are completed, the entire order will turn green, indicating it is ready to move on.
Batch Prep for Similar Items
Instead of opening each order separately, you can prep all of the same items at once in the total section.
Once an item is marked as prepped in the total section, it will also show as prepped in each individual order.
Handling New or Changed Orders
If a customer updates an order while you are working, the kitchen will be notified immediately if the Tablet Production Report is open.
A pop-up box will alert the kitchen to the change.
The changed order will flash red, and a newly placed order will also flash red.
The total quantities at the bottom will update, with old quantities crossed out and new ones displayed.
Once you click on the flashing order, it will return to yellow, signaling the update has been acknowledged.
Managing Completed Orders
Use the Completed Orders tab to move finished orders out of the open order view.
Click Move to Completed when an order is done.
The order will now appear under the Completed Orders tab.
If necessary, move an order back by clicking Move to Open.
New Order Sound Notification
Enable a New Order Sound to alert the kitchen of a newly placed order.
Click the New Order Sound tab to turn it on.
Select the notification sound of your choice.
The system will now alert the kitchen when a new order is placed.
Printing and Exporting Reports
Although the Tablet Production Report minimizes the need for paper, you can still print or export reports if necessary.
How to Print or Export a Report:
Click the "Print/Export" button from the Production Tab.
Select the preferred format (PDF or Excel).
Choose the print settings and confirm.
If exporting, save the file to your preferred storage location.
Best Practices for Tablet Production Reports
1. Keep the Tablet(s) in a Central Location
Place the tablet(s)
in an easily accessible spot in the kitchen to maximize efficiency.
Ensure it is mounted securely and protected from spills or heat.
2. Train Your Staff
Conduct a walkthrough with your kitchen team on how to navigate the KDS.
Emphasize the importance of marking orders as completed in real time.
4. Use the Reports for Post-Shift Analysis
Review completed orders to assess kitchen performance.
Identify recurring bottlenecks or inefficiencies.
Adjust kitchen workflows based on data trends.
The Tablet Production Report is an essential tool for managing high-volume catering operations. By utilizing these digital reports, your team can enhance efficiency, reduce errors, and ensure every catering order is prepared accurately and on time. Embrace this system to keep your kitchen running smoothly and your customers satisfied!