CBS NorthStar today announced a strategic partnership with QSR Automations by Crunchtime, making KitchenAI, NorthStar’s predictive kitchen intelligence platform, available to QSR Automations’ global customer base.
Through this partnership, QSR Automations will introduce KitchenAI as an integrated, operator-focused solution that complements and enhances the existing kitchen workflow tools used by thousands of restaurants. The collaboration brings predictive forecasting, real-time kitchen pacing analytics, and data-driven operational insights to brands seeking stronger speed-of-service performance and more accurate order promise times.
Developed by CBS NorthStar, KitchenAI uses item-level cooking data, KDS activity, historical trends, and real-time operational pacing to forecast order readiness with high accuracy. The result is a smarter, more efficient kitchen that stays in sync across dine-in, takeout, delivery, and third-party channels.
A Partnership Built on Operator Value
“QSR Automations has long been a trusted leader in kitchen operations technology, and partnering with them brings KitchenAI to operators who are ready for predictive intelligence not just dashboards,” said Jeremy Julian, Chief Revenue Officer of CBS NorthStar. “We’re aligned in our belief that kitchens should be proactive, not reactive, and this partnership accelerates that shift for the entire industry.”
As part of the collaboration,QSR Automations will offer KitchenAI to its customers as an advanced intelligence layer, designed to work alongside existing kitchen systems and help brands improve their accuracy, throughput, and operational consistency.
Why KitchenAI + QSR Automations Makes Sense for Operators
Together, the two companies provide operators with:
- Predictive, real-time order readiness forecasting
- Improved pickup, delivery, and carry-out accuracy
- Operational insights at the item, station, and store level
- Robust connectivity and features across POS, KDS, and online ordering platforms
- Tools to dynamically adjust kitchen pacing and order acceptance
By combining QSR Automations’ workflow expertise with KitchenAI’s predictive intelligence, restaurants gain a more complete operational picture, one that allows them to make faster decisions, reduce delays, and improve both guest and employee satisfaction.
“This partnership brings two complementary strengths together,” said Jennifer Karpinsky, VP of Business Development. “KitchenAI’s predictive engine gives operators a new level of clarity, helping them anticipate challenges instead of reacting to them. Together, we’re reshaping how kitchens operate.”
Availability
KitchenAI, powered by CBS NorthStar, is now available through QSR Automations as part of their expanded technology offering worldwide. Restaurants and partners can learn more at cbsnorthstar.com or by contacting their QSR Automations representative.
About CBS NorthStar
CBS NorthStar is a leading restaurant technology platform built for operators who need flexibility, real support, and solutions that adapt to the way they run their business—not the other way around. With decades of hospitality experience and a suite of products designed to streamline operations, NorthStar delivers real-world tools for real-world restaurants.
About Crunchtime
With Crunchtime, the world’s top restaurant brands achieve ops excellence in every location. Crunchtime software is used in over 150,000 locations in 100+ countries to manage inventory, staff scheduling, learning and development, food safety, operational tasks, and audits. Through its recent merger with QSR Automations, Crunchtime has expanded its offerings to include kitchen automation and guest management solutions. Crunchtime enables customers, including Chipotle, Culver’s, Domino’s, Dunkin’, Five Guys, and P.F. Chang’s to control food and labor costs and deliver great guest experiences by providing the real-time data and tools essential for profitable, scalable growth. Learn more at www.crunchtime.com.
