CBS NorthStar has entered a strategic agreement with QSR Automations by Crunchtime to roll out its KitchenAI predictive kitchen intelligence platform.

The partnership will make KitchenAI platform available to QSR Automations’ global restaurant customer base.

This will provide foodservice brands with access to forecasting tools, live kitchen pacing information and data-led operational insights to support faster service and more reliable order timing.

Built by CBS NorthStar, KitchenAI draws on detailed cooking information at item level, activity from kitchen display systems, historic performance patterns and real-time production pace to estimate when orders will be ready.

The system is positioned to help kitchens align workflows and coordinate production for dine-in, takeout, and delivery channels.

CBS NorthStar chief revenue officer Jeremy Julian said: “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.

“We're aligned in our belief that kitchens should be proactive, not reactive, and this partnership accelerates that shift for the entire industry.”

Under the partnership, QSR Automations will introduce KitchenAI to its customer base as an additional intelligence layer that works in tandem with established kitchen platforms.

The companies say this setup is intended to support improvements in order precision, throughput and standardisation of back-of-house performance.

By linking QSR Automations’ workflow capabilities with KitchenAI’s predictive models, the collaboration aims to provide restaurants with a broader view of their operations, enabling quicker responses to bottlenecks and delays.

QSR Automations business development vice-president Jennifer Karpinsky said: “This partnership brings two complementary strengths together.

“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."