Fourth, the leading provider of workforce and inventory management solutions for the hospitality industry, has announced the launch of Fourth iQ 2.1, a major update to its AI-powered platform that brings enhanced decision-making tools to managers across restaurants, hotels, and retail locations. The new release introduces a powerful new labour forecasting feature and a suite of AI-driven recommendations across workforce, HR, and inventory management, enabling teams to act faster and with greater confidence during every shift. At the core of the update is the new “Forecast Labour Adjustment” recommendation, which helps managers respond proactively to changes in demand. When sales forecasts shift significantly, the system automatically recalculates labour productivity and sends real-time alerts highlighting the potential impact on both sales and labour costs. If demand is expected to rise, the app recommends the most effective open shifts to create, ensuring optimal staffing levels are achieved without delay. This shift from reactive to proactive labour planning helps teams stay agile and avoid over- or under-staffing. Clinton Anderson, CEO of Fourth, said: “With each release, the Fourth iQ App continues to set a new standard for the industry. iQ 2.1 delivers even more AI-powered insights and actions that directly address the challenges managers face every day—saving time, improving accuracy, and allowing them to focus on leading their teams and serving guests. This is about putting intelligent, actionable guidance right in the hands of the people who need it most.” The update builds on the 20+ AI recommendations introduced in the September launch of the iQ App, which already provided data-driven guidance across HR, workforce, and inventory. Now, with iQ 2.1, these capabilities are more integrated and responsive, accessible across mobile, tablet, and web platforms. Public House Group, one of the early adopters of the iQ App, shared its positive experience. Linga Nadarajah, Operations Manager at Public House Group, said: “The Fourth iQ App is already making a real difference. I love the daily sales and labour notifications—they’re clear, simple, and give us a real-time snapshot of performance. It’s great to see managers being prompted to chase deliveries or review key metrics. This kind of support makes decision-making easier and operations sharper. It’s exactly the kind of innovation I’m excited to see in the industry.” The new release also includes a range of additional recommendations across three key areas: workforce management, human resources, and inventory. These tools are designed to simplify daily operations, reduce manual effort, and improve overall efficiency. With this update, Fourth continues to advance its mission of helping hospitality operators transition from reactive management to proactive, data-driven decision-making. By embedding AI directly into daily workflows, the Fourth iQ App empowers teams to control costs, boost productivity, and focus on what truly matters—delivering exceptional guest experiences. For more information, visit uk.fourth.com. When every hour of every shift matters, Fourth helps restaurants, retailers, and hotels conquer the day with data-driven workforce and inventory technology. The Fourth AI Platform leverages over 20 years of industry data and advanced analytics to deliver actionable insights, demand forecasting, and operational optimization. With a streamlined business powered by the Fourth AI Platform, operators can act with certainty and lead with confidence—no matter what challenges arise. Fourth serves more than 15,000 customers across 120,000 locations worldwide.