Fourth Launches iQ 2.2, Enabling Restaurant Managers to Prevent Inventory Shortfalls With the iQ App

AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Fourth, the leading provider of workforce and inventory management solutions for the restaurant industry, today announced the release of Fourth iQ 2.2, introducing new AI-driven recommendations into the iQ App that help restaurant operators stay ahead of stock issues, strengthen compliance processes, and benefit from an enhanced user experience.

Clinton Anderson, CEO at Fourth, said: “With every new release of Fourth iQ, we’re continuing to deliver more capabilities that recommend the next best action, especially within our AI-powered inventory management solution. Fourth iQ 2.2 is another great example of how we’re turning data into proactive actions that help operators stay ahead of challenges. Equally important, we’re listening closely to our customers and moving quickly to improve the Fourth iQ experience based on their feedback, ensuring the iQ app continues to evolve in ways that deliver real, everyday value.”

Proactively Prevent Inventory Shortfalls

At the heart of the iQ 2.2 release are two new inventory management recommendations designed to help managers anticipate issues before they impact service or profitability:

Predictive Out of Stock Alert – Stay Ahead of Inventory Shortages

This new AI-driven alert forecasts when key items will run out later in the week, based on current on-hand quantities and predicted sales. By identifying potential shortages early, managers can act ahead of time, ordering or reallocating stock to prevent disruptions and protect the guest experience.

Sales Item Unavailable (86) – Anticipate Menu Impacts from Understocks

When ingredient shortages are likely to impact recipes, managers receive an alert showing which menu items will soon be unavailable to sell. The alert only triggers when the affected ingredient is essential, helping teams plan substitutions, update menus, and avoid guest disappointment.

An ever-increasing number of Fourth customers are benefitting from Fourth iQ for both workforce management and inventory management. Oscar Congote, Planning & Special Projects Director at International Restaurant Services Inc, shared their experience: “Fourth continues to innovate in ways that make forecasting more precise and actionable. With iQ, we can anticipate challenges before they happen and that kind of forward thinking makes a huge difference in our operations.”

Ensure Compliance and Workforce Readiness

In addition to inventory insights, Fourth iQ 2.2 introduces two new workforce management recommendations that help operators stay compliant and reduce manual administration:

• I-9 Verification Process – Managers are alerted when an employee updates their I-9 verification status. From within the app, managers can review the changes and complete the process directly, ensuring compliance and saving valuable time.
• Expiring Certificates – Managers are notified when team members’ certificates (such as food safety or alcohol service) are nearing expiration. If a renewed certificate is available, the manager can update it directly in the iQ App, ensuring records remain current and compliant.

An Even More Intuitive and Insightful iQ Experience

The iQ 2.2 release also includes a range of user interface updates driven by feedback from early adopters, reflecting Fourth’s commitment to continuous improvement and responsiveness to customer input.

Enhancements include:

• Display of ‘iQ Reasoning’ text, giving managers more context behind each recommendation.
• Updates to the prioritization algorithm, ensuring time-sensitive actions appear first.
• Regional support for dates, times, currencies, and decimals.
• A refreshed experience featuring animated highlights, expandable recommendation cards, and an optimized iPad landscape layout for easier viewing and interaction.

Fourth iQ 2.2 builds on the momentum of previous releases, expanding a growing library of AI-powered recommendations that help managers act faster, improve accuracy, and spend more time leading their teams and serving guests.

For more information, visit the Fourth website.