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Back-of-House Breakdown: How Zebra Tech is Transforming QSR Kitchens

Quick service restaurants (QSRs) operate on tight margins and even tighter timelines. Customers expect speed, accuracy, and consistency, and if the kitchen lags behind, the whole operation suffers. That’s why QSR brands are turning to Zebra Technologies and Strategic Systems to optimize their back-of-house (BOH) operations with rugged, connected tech.

From RFID ingredient tracking to tablet-based prep instructions and on-demand label printing, Zebra’s hardware when paired with Strategic Systems' expert deployment keeps BOH teams moving fast, staying accurate, and maintaining compliance.

The Problem with Manual BOH Processes

Let’s be real: paper-based prep lists, verbal handoffs, and outdated labeling systems lead to:

  • Food waste and mislabeling
  • Delayed ticket times
  • Safety and compliance risks
  • Frustrated kitchen staff

Modern QSR kitchens can’t afford that kind of friction. Automation and digitization are no longer a luxury… they’re an operational necessity.

Zebra Tablets in the Kitchen? Yes, Really.

Forget fragile consumer tablets that can’t handle heat, spills, or drops. Zebra’s ET40 and ET45 rugged enterprise tablets are built for environments like kitchens, walk-ins, and prep stations.

What they do:

  • Display real-time prep tasks from your KDS (Kitchen Display System)
  • Provide visual recipes or allergen warnings
  • Connect to inventory and ticketing systems via Wi-Fi 6
  • Survive messy environments with IP65 sealing and Gorilla Glass

When deployed with Strategic Systems, these tablets come pre-staged and protected ready to plug into your BOH workflows on Day 1.

Labeling That Keeps Up with the Line

Accurate labeling is critical for QSR compliance especially with FDA food safety regulations and shelf-life tracking. Zebra’s ZD621 or ZD411 desktop printers, when paired with dissolvable food-safe labels, enable:

  • Prep labels with auto-calculated expiration dates
  • Ingredient tracking for allergen safety
  • FIFO rotation and inventory transparency
  • QR codes or barcodes for mobile scanning

Strategic Systems helps configure your labeling software and device setup, ensuring labels are printed at the right station, with the right data, every time.

RFID for Food & Supply Tracking

While not yet standard in every QSR, RFID is quickly emerging especially for high-volume kitchens and brands focused on traceability.

With Zebra’s TC22R or FX9600 fixed readers, kitchen managers can:

  • Track prep bins, ingredient batches, or cold storage items
  • Monitor uniform and tray movement for large chain locations
  • Eliminate manual checks for expiration or restock alerts
  • Pair RFID insights with kitchen analytics for better purchasing decisions

Need help getting started? Strategic Systems offers turnkey RFID solutions including RedBeam integration so you don’t have to figure it out alone.

Results You Can Measure

When QSRs invest in digitizing BOH workflows with Zebra and Strategic Systems, they typically see:

  • 20–30% faster prep times due to streamlined task management
  • Up to 50% reduction in mislabeling or missing allergen info
  • Improved shelf-life accuracy, leading to reduced waste
  • Better kitchen morale, thanks to clearer communication and less chaos

Strategic Systems: Your BOH Tech Partner

Whether you're rolling out 10 stores or 1,000, Strategic Systems ensures your Zebra tech is deployed with speed, precision, and scale.

We offer:

  • Hardware evaluations for kitchen environments
  • Device staging, imaging, and rollout planning
  • Kitchen staff onboarding and training
  • Labeling software setup
  • RFID pilot programs and post-deployment support

Modernize the Kitchen, Maximize the Brand

In QSR, every second counts and every prep step matters. The right kitchen tech doesn't just make your BOH run smoother it creates a better experience for customers, employees, and franchise operators alike.

Strategic Systems helps you turn Zebra’s rugged, connected tools into an operational advantage that grows with your brand.

Contact Strategic Systems to optimize your QSR kitchen
Explore Zebra tablets, printers, and RFID tech for BOH success