QSR Automations
QSR Automations, now operating as Crunchtime, develops kitchen display systems, guest management software, and operational analytics for global restaurant chains. Founded in 1997 in Louisville, KY, it pioneered the original KDS category and serves enterprise customers including KFC, TGI Friday's, and Shake Shack.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1997
- HeadquartersLouisville, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What QSR Automations does
QSR Automations, now operating under the Crunchtime brand following its June 2025 merger with Crunchtime Information Systems, develops restaurant technology centered on kitchen display systems (KDS), guest management, and operational analytics. Founded in 1997 in Louisville, Kentucky, the company is credited with creating the original Kitchen Display System and has built a 25+ year track record serving global restaurant chains. The platform consists of Crunchtime Kitchen (back-of-house KDS with order routing and ticket-time management), Crunchtime Host (front-of-house reservations, waitlists, seating, and 2-way SMS), Crunchtime Insights (multi-location analytics), Crunchtime Go (off-premise/takeout/curbside/delivery), ControlPoint (remote device management), and RecipesPlus, supported by purpose-built hardware including KP-9000/KP-7500 bump bars, HP and Elo controllers, Kitchen Armor and Elo touchscreens, and modular mounting systems. Architecture supports bi-directional APIs and certified integrations with 80+ POS systems (NCR Aloha, Oracle MICROS, Toast, Revel, Lightspeed, Square, etc.) plus solution partnerships with Google, OpenTable, Olo, Flybuy, Curbit, and Smart Bar USA.
The company sells primarily through direct enterprise field sales and a global channel partner network of resellers and integrators, with pricing structured as annual subscriptions (Base/Pro/Premium tiers), hardware sales, and professional services for implementation and rollout. Customers include large enterprise chains (KFC, TGI Friday's, BJ's Restaurants, Shake Shack, Brinker International/Chili's & Maggiano's, Boston Pizza, Buffalo Wild Wings, Cheesecake Factory, Papa John's, Raising Cane's, Zaxby's, Red Robin, Mellow Mushroom, Dave's Hot Chicken, Azzurri Group) as well as mid-market operators and non-restaurant verticals (entertainment venues, travel/hospitality, senior living). Following the November 2024 Battery Ventures majority growth investment and the June 2025 merger, the combined entity positions itself as a comprehensive restaurant operations platform spanning the full food lifecycle, with a UK regional headquarters in Watford and a London Innovation Room supporting international expansion.
QSR Automations firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- QSR Automations
- Legal name
- QSR Automations, LLC
- Website
- https://qsrautomations.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1997
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- QSR Automations, now operating as Crunchtime, develops kitchen display systems, guest management software, and operational analytics for global restaurant chains. Founded in 1997 in Louisville, KY, it pioneered the original KDS category and serves enterprise customers including KFC, TGI Friday's, and Shake Shack.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
QSR Automations industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Restaurant Technology Software
- NAICS
- Computer Terminal and Other Computer Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing (334118)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Restaurant Technology Supplies (POS Hardware, Kiosks) Wholesale (AFAIALAM)
Keywords
Where QSR Automations is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Louisville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
QSR Automations business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Software Subscriptions: Subscription-based SaaS model for Crunchtime Kitchen, Host, Insights, and Go software solutions. Customers pay recurring fees for access to the platform with different tier levels (Base, Pro, Premium).
- Hardware Sales: Sale of kitchen display hardware including bump bars (KP-9000, KP-7500), controllers (HP Engage Flex Mini, HP Thin Client, Elo Backpack), touchscreens, mounting solutions, and all-in-one systems.
- Professional Services: Implementation services including configuration, training, installation support, and software rollout across units. Includes customer success team support.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Crunchtime Kitchen Base - Essential KDS functionality |
| Subscription | Annual | Crunchtime Kitchen Pro - Base + 1 Kitchen API Service |
| Subscription | Annual | Crunchtime Kitchen Premium - Base + 2+ Kitchen API Services |
| Subscription | Annual | Crunchtime Host Bundle - Full guest management |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
QSR Automations product offering
Product offeringCore offering
QSR Automations develops and sells restaurant technology software and hardware for kitchen display, guest management, off-premise order handling, and operational analytics, delivered through subscription tiers and bundled with purpose-built bump bars, controllers, touchscreens, and mounting hardware. The company serves restaurant chains and foodservice operators globally with direct enterprise sales and a network of channel resellers and POS integration partners.
Product overview
QSR Automations by Crunchtime offers a modular restaurant technology platform consisting of both software solutions and purpose-built hardware. The software suite includes Crunchtime Kitchen (back-of-house kitchen display system/KDS), Crunchtime Host (front-of-house guest management), Crunchtime Go (off-premise/takeout management add-on), Crunchtime Insights (data analytics and reporting), and Crunchtime RecipesPlus (recipe management). Hardware offerings include KP-9000 and KP-7500 bump bars, kitchen display controllers (HP Engage Flex Mini, HP Thin Client, Elo Backpack 4), touchscreen monitors (Kitchen Armor, Elo), all-in-one systems (Elo Android All-in-Ones, Elo I-Series for Windows, Kitchen Armor All-in-Ones), and mounting solutions (QBracket, Adapter Plate, Dual Tablet Mount). The platform integrates with over 80 POS systems and serves restaurants across quick service, fast casual, full service, entertainment venues, travel (airports, hotels, convenience stores), and senior living segments.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Crunchtime Kitchen: A back-of-house kitchen display solution (KDS) to improve kitchen workflow and communication.
- Crunchtime Host
- Crunchtime Insights
- Crunchtime Go
- Crunchtime ControlPoint
Products and services
- Crunchtime Kitchen Back-of-house kitchen display solution (KDS) that improves kitchen workflow and communication, reduces ticket times, improves food quality and order accuracy, and integrates with 80+ POS partners. Offered in Base, Pro, and Premium subscription tiers for restaurant operators.
- Crunchtime Host Front-of-house guest management solution for reservations, waitlists, and seating management with 2-way SMS messaging, Google and OpenTable integrations, and analytics for restaurants.
- Crunchtime Insights Data analytics and visualization tool providing real-time operational insights and historical analytics with intuitive dashboards, multi-location comparison, and exportable data for restaurant operators.
- Crunchtime Go Off-premise order management add-on for managing take-out, curbside, and delivery with real-time kitchen data updates and 2-way SMS guest notifications.
- Crunchtime RecipesPlus Recipe management solution for standardizing recipes, ensuring consistency, and managing food costs across restaurant locations.
- Crunchtime ControlPoint Device management software for configuring, monitoring, diagnosing, and upgrading kitchen display hardware remotely across restaurant locations.
- KitchenAI AI-driven restaurant operations technology introduced in partnership with CBS NorthStar to bring artificial intelligence to restaurant kitchen workflows.
- KP-9000 Bump Bar Wireless Bluetooth Low Energy bump bar with 20 programmable keys rated for 30 million pushes and a 3-year limited warranty for kitchen order management.
- KP-7500 Bump Bar Wired bump bar with 20 programmable keys, enhanced tactile feel, 30 million push rating, PS/2 and USB support, and audio beep notification for new orders.
- HP Engage Flex Mini Controller Compact kitchen display controller with 10th Gen Intel Core i3 processor, 8GB memory, and 500GB SATA HDD storage for restaurant kitchen station applications.
- HP Thin Client Controller Custom-tailored kitchen display controller with industrial-grade VESA mounts, Intel Wireless Bluetooth, high-speed responsive memory, and industry-leading data encryption.
- Elo Backpack 4 Value Model Controller Commercial-grade compute engine with Android 10 operating system and Rockchip processor designed for speed and stability in restaurant kitchen environments.
- Kitchen Armor Touchscreens PCAP touchscreen monitors with glass front panel, available in 17" and 21.5" sizes, designed for high-traffic and harsh kitchen environments.
- Elo Touchscreens Open-frame touchscreen displays with industrial-grade reliability, drift-free operation, and accurate touch responses, available in 22" and 24" sizes.
- Elo Android All-in-Ones Commercial-grade Android all-in-one touchscreen monitors available in 10", 15", and 22" sizes with Power Over Ethernet (POE) and optional stainless steel enclosures.
- Elo I-Series for Windows All-in-Ones Windows-based commercial-grade all-in-one computing with modular platform, available in 15" and 22" sizes for point-of-sale, self-service, and hospitality installations.
- Kitchen Armor All-in-Ones PCAP Android all-in-one monitors with stainless steel enclosure and Power Over Ethernet, available in 15.6" and 21.5" sizes for demanding restaurant environments.
- QBracket Mounting System Modular VESA-compliant mounting solution with interchangeable design, quick-release adapter, and built-in tie-wrap holes for wire management, supporting up to 15" displays at 5 lbs maximum.
- Adapter Plate Bracket Modular mounting option that spreads hardware across one plate instead of stacking behind monitor, providing easier access to connection points for tighter mounting situations.
- Dual Tablet Mounting Double-screen mounting option for dual-tablet installations, supporting both landscape and portrait mounting with base stand connecting to tablets or locking iPad Air enclosures.
Quantifiable outcome
- $5 million annualized savings from labor reduction
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use QSR Automations
Customer profileNamed customers24 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
QSR Automations technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration83 records
AI capability4 records
Feature8 records
QSR Automations partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
20 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- CBS NorthStarcoreCBS NorthStar partnered with QSR Automations to introduce KitchenAI, a new technology solution for restaurant operations.
- Crunchtime Information SystemsflagshipBattery Ventures-backed Crunchtime Information Systems and QSR Automations agreed to merge in June 2025, combining comprehensive operations management platform with kitchen automation to help customers execute more efficiently and profitably.
- GooglecoreGoogle partnership enables diners to book through Search, Maps or Assistant, getting on guest lists, viewing wait times, or reserving tables directly. Integration drives more guests through restaurant customer doors.
- OpenTablecorePartnership combines powerful in-store operational software with the largest consumer network of diners, creating a win-win for the hospitality industry.
- Flybuy (Radius Networks)coreFlybuy uses proprietary machine learning and location AI to improve guest experience. Partnership gives restaurants visibility into customer journey for efficient curbside or in-store pickup. Customer name, vehicle, and real-time ETAs displayed alongside orders using Crunchtime Host and Kitchen.
- OlocoreOlo's OrderReady AI leverages actual 'Order Ready' times from Crunchtime Kitchen to provide more accurate quote times to guests with minimal effort from brands and operators.
- CurbitcorePartnership between Crunchtime Kitchen and Curbit enhances digital ordering experience with more accurate quote times and proactive guest updates.
- Toast Partner EcosystemcoreQSR Automations joined Toast Partner Ecosystem to help restaurants improve speed of service and efficiencies through integrated kitchen display solutions.
- ElocoreElo is a best-of-breed hardware solutions provider. QSR offers Elo touchscreens, Elo Backpack controllers, and Elo I-Series All-in-One solutions designed for harsh restaurant environments.
- Kitchen ArmorcoreKitchen Armor provides purpose-built touchscreen monitors and all-in-one solutions. Partnership ensures hardware stands up to fast pace and long hours of restaurant operations.
- HPcoreHP provides Engage Flex Mini and HP Thin Client kitchen display controllers as part of QSR's hardware lineup.
- RSScoreRSS is a restaurant technology provider since 2003 offering customizable solutions that adapt to any market and segment.
- SquirrelminorStrategic partnership for restaurant technology distribution.
- Mercurio SistemiminorStrategic partnership for restaurant technology distribution.
- Kitchen ConnectminorStrategic partnership for restaurant technology distribution.
- CounterSolutions GivexminorStrategic partnership for restaurant technology distribution.
- ReSourcePOSminorStrategic partnership for restaurant technology distribution.
- CeconminorStrategic partnership for restaurant technology distribution.
- TheravadaminorStrategic partnership for restaurant technology distribution.
- 80+ POS PartnerscoreCertified integrations with 80+ POS systems including Aloha (NCR), Oracle MICROS, Revel, Toast, Lightspeed, Square, Clover, and many more enabling seamless deployment.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
QSR Automations competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Revel Systems: Revel iPad-based POS for restaurants, quick-service, and entertainment venues. Comparable on customer segments (QSR, fast casual, entertainment venues like arenas) and as a bundled competitor for both front- and back-of-house workflows.
- SpotOn: SpotOn Restaurant combines POS, KDS, online ordering, and marketing for full-service and QSR operators, and is also a certified POS integration partner. Comparable as a bundled alternative competing head-to-head for mid-market and emerging enterprise accounts.
- Lightspeed Restaurant: Lightspeed's K-Series and Restaurant POS offering targets the same mid-market and enterprise QSR/fast-casual segments with built-in KDS and front-of-house tools. Comparable on customer profile and as a bundled KDS alternative for the ~80-POS integration universe QSR Automations also serves.
- Olo: Public restaurant technology platform focused on off-premise ordering, delivery, and guest data. Directly comparable because Olo's OrderReady AI explicitly integrates with Crunchtime Kitchen timing data, putting the two companies in co-dependent competitive and partnership postures for digital ordering and quote-time accuracy.
Broad incumbents
- Toast: Major restaurant POS and software platform that has expanded into native kitchen display, online ordering, and back-of-house workflows. Directly comparable as an end-to-end restaurant tech suite now competing with QSR Automations' standalone KDS module through bundled offerings to enterprise chains.
- Oracle MICROS: Enterprise restaurant POS incumbent (MICROS Simphony, RES 3700/9700) serving large hospitality chains. Comparable because MICROS is both a top integration partner for QSR Automations and a competitor at the high end of the enterprise market where the two systems often co-deploy.
- NCR Aloha: NCR Aloha is a leading enterprise POS in casual dining and quick-service, including TGI Fridays. Comparable as both a foundational POS integration partner and a competitor for the same enterprise back-of-house modernization deals Crunchtime Kitchen targets.
- Square for Restaurants (Block): Square's restaurant vertical offers POS, KDS, online ordering, and team management in a tightly integrated suite. Comparable as a bundled competitor for both QSR and fast-casual segments where Crunchtime Kitchen and Host modules compete.
- PAR Technology (Brink POS): PAR Technology's Brink POS and PixelPoint/EverServ family provide enterprise restaurant POS that integrates with QSR Automations' KDS. Comparable as both a partner and competitor, given PAR's expanding front-of-house workflow features targeting chains like Boston Pizza.
Emerging players
- OpenTable (Block): OpenTable dominates reservations and waitlist for full-service restaurants and integrates with Crunchtime Host. Comparable because it overlaps directly with QSR's front-of-house Host module on reservations and guest management, while serving many of the same casual/upscale dining customers.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
QSR Automations social profiles
Digital presenceQSR Automations compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
QSR Automations financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
QSR Automations leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
QSR Automations funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
QSR Automations M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about QSR Automations
What does QSR Automations do?
QSR Automations develops and sells restaurant technology software and hardware for kitchen display, guest management, off-premise order handling, and operational analytics, delivered through subscription tiers and bundled with purpose-built bump bars, controllers, touchscreens, and mounting hardware. The company serves restaurant chains and foodservice operators globally with direct enterprise sales and a network of channel resellers and POS integration partners.
Is QSR Automations a public or private company?
QSR Automations is a private company. It is classified as private equity controlled and is currently operating.
When was QSR Automations founded?
QSR Automations was founded in 1997. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is QSR Automations based?
QSR Automations is headquartered in Louisville, United States, in the North America region.
How does QSR Automations make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Software Subscriptions are the primary driver. The others are hardware Sales and professional Services.
Who are QSR Automations's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Revel Systems, SpotOn, Lightspeed Restaurant and Olo. Broad incumbents are Toast, Oracle MICROS, NCR Aloha, Square for Restaurants (Block) and PAR Technology (Brink POS). OpenTable (Block) is listed as an emerging player.
Does QSR Automations have an API?
Yes. Flexible APIs and bi-directional integrations allow order and customer data to flow between all Crunchtime Platform components, POS systems, and online ordering/delivery partners. APIs are available as add-on services in Pro (1 Kitchen API Service) and Premium (2+ Kitchen API Services) subscription tiers. Specific APIs referenced include Team Member API, Party Metric API, and Table API in the Host product. External partners like Olo leverage Crunchtime Kitchen's 'Order Ready' data feed via API to provide accurate quote times to guests.
What industry is QSR Automations in?
QSR Automations's product category is Restaurant Technology Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAIALAM, Restaurant Technology Supplies (POS Hardware, Kiosks) Wholesale. Its NAICS code is 334118 and its SIC code is 7373.