According to Dr. Kirkby, LIFELENZ decided to focus on the workforce optimization and human capital space because it was an area begging for disruption. The clear reason being the fact that labor is one of the greatest cost variables for demand-driven businesses. What makes LIFELENZ unique is its ability to deliver self-learning systems that optimize staff scheduling based on demand forecast and comply with all the relevant regulations, no matter how recent. “We use an ensemble modeling approach that deploys multiple models to compete for the best outcome, orchestrated by a model manager,” adds Kirkby. This includes recognizing the reality that every store is different—based on location, demographics, historic trading patterns and the weather. As such, the LIFELENZ system can use thousands of models so that every store gets its optimized staff schedules based on its specific needs. Using its self-learning AI systems, LIFELENZ starts building schedules about six weeks out, gathering weather forecasts for within one mile of the premises, as well as historical sales patterns and any local events, which then tune themselves. So, it’s “refine, refine, and refine!” The system tunes models on a daily basis as forecasts firm up until they are needed by the store.

Kirkby adds, “This enables us to do automatic onboarding to generate shifts on the fly and post them to a job-shift board to deliver a surge workforce in a totally compliant manner. LIFELENZ is unique because of our AI DNA. Collectively, we have hundreds of years of hands-on experience building AI-based systems at enterprise scale.”

To illustrate LIFELENZ’s value, Kirkby recalls their collaboration with a multinational restaurant group that was using LIFELENZ workforce optimization systems at all of its corporate stores in New York City, including its flagship Times Square store. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the State of New York has changed labor laws on the fly to protect workers, which has caused massive scheduling problems for their employers. However, as the LIFELENZ self-learning systems automatically optimize labor demands with staffing costs and regulatory compliance, the client reported that profitability has improved by between 1 and 4 points per restaurant since it started using LIFELENZ’s system. Kirkby ecstatically mentions, “At any time, that sort of improvement is remarkable. During the current pandemic, it is spectacular.”

Today, LIFELENZ has offices in the U.S., UK, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. For the future, the company will continue to enhance the capabilities of its AI system and deliver greater value to its clients.