Qu, a unified commerce platform designed for enterprise restaurants, is redefining restaurant operations with what is described as the industry's first smart kitchen integrating energy and equipment intelligence.

The Smart Kitchen platform fuses IoT [internet of things] sensors, energy and equipment management, and predictive insights to maximise efficiencies and decrease costs.

The solution is designed to provide operators with better visibility, control and cost savings across back-of-house operations at scale.

Restaurants are currently experiencing increasing operating costs with repair and maintenance expenses rising 31% since 2019, according to the 2025 State of Repairs Report by 86 Repairs.

Energy now represents around 6% of average restaurant operating costs, as reported by The Carbon Trust.

Qu CEO Amir Hudda stated: "Restaurants are facing an operational tipping point.

"Operators and franchisees are under intense pressure to cut costs without compromising performance. Our ground-breaking Smart Kitchen gives them the advanced tools they need to meet those challenges head-on, unlike anything before — reducing energy use, extending equipment life and building more efficient, consistent operations across every location."

The integrated Smart Kitchen platform elevates intelligence, building on Qu's existing native technology to provide centralised control and real-time responsiveness.

The system transforms kitchens into high-performance hubs via a unified IoT infrastructure.

Key features include energy intelligence, real-time equipment monitoring and alerts, predictive maintenance and AI-powered forecasting.

These features integrate with Qu's existing back-of-house solutions, including the kitchen display system, production optimisation board, and AI-powered order readiness forecasting, forming a comprehensive platform for modern kitchen management.

Qu's platform enables full interoperability, supporting a range of kitchen equipment regardless of manufacturer. It captures real-time data from temperature sensors and energy monitors, giving operators a more connected view of kitchen and building performance throughout systems.

In 2024, American fast food chain Jack in the Box partnered with Qu to implement a cloud-based unified commerce platform across its Jack in the Box and Del Taco restaurant brands.