Fourth has released iQ 2.1, the latest upgrade to its AI-powered Fourth iQ App, aimed at hospitality and retail operators. This version adds robust AI-driven labor forecasting and an expanded suite of manager recommendations. The keywords “labor forecasting”, “manager recommendations,” and “AI-powered” appear throughout.

The core new feature, called “Forecast Labor Adjustment”, alerts managers when the sales forecast shifts significantly. It then recalculates labor productivity and recommends optimal open shifts to align with demand. In doing so, it aims to help managers act proactively rather than reactively. 

In addition to labor management, the update expands across the workforce, HR, and inventory modules. For workforce management, managers can now approve shift swaps, manage unavailability, and receive schedule-deadline alerts directly in the app. HR capabilities include reviewing employment-change requests, onboarding alerts, and compliance verifications (such as TrustID) integrated into the mobile experience. For inventory management, new alerts flag missing product codes (PLUs) and highlight elevated waste trends compared with peer locations. 

According to the announcement, the app works on mobile, tablet, or web, and consolidates dozens of actionable insights into a single interface. Fourth, it emphasizes that iQ 2.1 lets managers spend less time chasing data and more time leading their teams and serving guests. 

By embedding AI-powered recommendations directly into daily workflows, Fourth aims to shift operators from reactive management to real-time, proactive decision-making. The added emphasis on labor forecasting reflects rising pressure in hospitality to optimize staffing levels and control costs. In summary, the upgrade shows a trend toward smarter, more aware tools for the next generation of workers and managing inventory.

iQ 2.1 gives operators who use Fourth’s platform in more than one place better tools to predict demand, manage labor, cut waste, and boost performance.

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News Source: Businesswire.com