<PAGE>   1
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549



                                    FORM 8-K



                                 CURRENT REPORT



                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934







       Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) December 31, 1996



                        BRISTOL TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



        Delaware                      0-21633                    58-2235556
(State or other jurisdiction        (Commission               (I.R.S. Employer
      of incorporation)             File Number)             Identification No.)



18201 Von Karman, Suite 305, Irvine, California                         92612
   (Address of principal executive offices)                           (Zip Code)



Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (714) 475-0800



                                 Not Applicable
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
<PAGE>   2
ITEM 2 - ACQUISITION OR DISPOSITION OF ASSETS

      On December 31, 1996, the Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Agreement")
by and among the Company, the Company's wholly-owned subsidiary, Bristol Merger
Corporation (the "Purchaser"), Automatic Register Systems, Inc. ("ARS") and the
shareholders of ARS, Michael J. Pollastro, John E. Pollastro and Gary T.
Pollastro (the "Shareholders"), was consummated. Under the terms of the
Agreement, the Purchaser will change its name to Automated Retail Systems, Inc.
and intends to conduct all of the previous operations conducted by ARS. ARS is a
point-of-sale (POS) systems dealer for NCR, Panasonic, IBM and ICL Fujitsu
equipment. ARS sells, installs and services POS systems for these manufacturers
at supermarkets, quick service food outlets, restaurants and other retail
establishments. Through October 31, 1996, ARS had unaudited gross revenues of
$3,700,000, pre-tax earnings of $388,000, net income of $385,000 and total
assets of $1,531,000. Assets acquired as a result of the Agreement consisted
primarily of accounts receivable and inventory.

      In consideration for the merger, the Shareholders will receive up to
$1,025,023 in cash and 58,154 shares of non-registered, restricted Common Stock
of the Company which were valued at December 30, 1996 to be $683,349. Of the
amount of cash and stock of the Company to be distributed to the Shareholders
pursuant to the Agreement, a total of $200,000 and 10,211 shares of Common Stock
of the Company will be retained in escrow, and the aggregate purchase price for
the acquisition is subject to adjustment in the event ARS' net worth is less
than $644,000 and pre-tax earnings are less than $390,000 based on an audit to
be completed of ARS' financial statements for the year ending December 31, 1996.
The purchase price to be paid to the Shareholders as a result of the merger was
negotiated on an "arms-length" basis with the Shareholders, and none of the
Shareholders nor any of the principals of the Company had a pre-existing
relationship prior to the consummation of the transaction. Cash utilized for the
acquisition was obtained by the Company from its recently concluded public
offering of its securities consummated on November 20, 1996.

      Michael J. Pollastro has entered into an employment agreement dated
January 1, 1997 pursuant to which he will serve as President of Automated Retail
Systems, Inc., and will serve on the Board of Directors of ARS. The term of
the employment agreement is for three years concluding December 31, 1999, during
which term Mr. Pollastro will receive a base salary of $130,000, participation
in a bonus program and certain additional benefits.

      Mr. John E. Pollastro has also entered into an employment agreement dated
January 1, 1997 pursuant to which he will serve as Vice President and Secretary
of Automated Retail Systems, Inc. The term of the employment agreement is
for three years concluding December 31, 1999, during which term Mr. Pollastro
will receive a


                                        2
<PAGE>   3
base salary of $80,000, participation in a bonus program and certain additional
benefits.

      Mr. Gary T. Pollastro, has entered into an employment agreement dated
January 1, 1997 pursuant to which he will serve as Vice President and Treasurer
of Automated Retail Systems, Inc. The term of the employment agreement is
for three years concluding December 31, 1999, during which term Mr. Pollastro
will receive a base salary of $85,000, participation in a bonus program and
certain additional benefits.

      In connection with the merger, ARS entered into a First Amendment to a
building lease whereby ARS will lease 11,158 square feet of office space through
December 31, 2003 for a rental rate of $15,063.30 per month from Michael
Pollastro, Gary T. Pollastro, John Pollastro and Carmen Pollastro. In addition,
ARS entered into a software development and certain exclusive distributorship
agreements with Pacific Retail Systems, Inc. ("PRS"), a corporation owned by
Michael Pollastro. In consideration for $50,000 paid by ARS to PRS for software
development costs, ARS obtained the exclusive right to sell and distribute
certain software.

ITEM 7 - FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND
            EXHIBITS

      (a)   Financial Statements of the businesses acquired [TO BE PROVIDED BY
            AMENDMENT]

      (b)   Pro Forma Financial information [TO BE PROVIDED BY AMENDMENT]

      (c)   Exhibits:

            (1)   Agreement and Plan of Merger by and among Bristol Technology
                  Systems, Inc., Bristol Merger Corporation, Automated Register
                  Systems, Inc. and the Shareholders thereof (Exhibit 2.1).

            (2)   Building Lease dated May 29, 1990 by and between Automated
                  Register Systems, Inc., Michael J. Pollastro, Gary T.
                  Pollastro and John and Carmen Pollastro, as amended by First
                  Amendment to Building Lease dated January 1, 1997 by and
                  between Automated Retail Systems, Inc., Michael Pollastro,
                  Gary T. Pollastro, and John and Carmen Pollastro 
                  (Exhibit 10.25).


                                        3
<PAGE>   4
                                    SIGNATURE


      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934,
the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                                    BRISTOL TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS, INC.



                                    By: /s/ Kelly Kaufman
                                        ----------------------------------
                                        Kelly Kaufman, Vice President
                                        and Principal Financial Officer


January 15, 1997.


                                       4
<PAGE>   5
                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Index
Number       Description
------       -----------

  2.1          Agreement and Plan of Merger by and among Bristol Technology
               Systems, Inc., Bristol Merger Corporation, Automated Register
               Systems, Inc. and the Shareholders thereof.

10.25          Building Lease dated May 29, 1990 by and between Automated
               Register Systems, Inc., Michael J. Pollastro, Gary T.
               Pollastro and John and Carmen Pollastro, as amended by First
               Amendment to Building Lease dated January 1, 1997 by and
               between Automated Retail Systems, Inc., Michael Pollastro,
               Gary T. Pollastro, and John and Carmen Pollastro.