Fuelling efficiency – smartphones save Brits up to 28 minutes per day

New research carried out by online freelance marketplace, PeoplePerHour has shown that smartphones and their on demand apps help us to save up to 28.7 minutes per day, which adds up to a phenomenal 11,256 minutes – more than seven full days – per year.

Smartphones have often been lambasted as a time drain but this new research sheds light on how they have transformed our habits and daily routine. The combination of the internet and smartphones/tablets, mean that travel time is no longer ‘dead time’; for example the commute to business meetings can now be almost as productive as the meetings themselves, spent pitching for business or even fulfilling contracts.

When asked what problem online platforms and apps solved that had most impact, respondents cited not having to hail black cabs as the most important, being able to find work on demand and not having to physically go grocery shopping as the top three.

Named benefits of on demand apps (according to respondents).

1. Not needing to hail black cabs or pay in cash (57%)
2. The ability to find work on demand (32%)
3. Not having to physically go grocery shopping (26%)
4. Not queuing for restaurant tables (22%)
5. The ability to hire cleaners on demand (19%)

Those surveyed were also asked how often they would use an on demand app, 67% said at least once per day, 48% twice and 11% admitted to using on demand apps over five times a day.

64% said they couldn’t live without their on demand apps and many stated their lives would be ‘significantly more difficult’ if they didn’t have access to them.

The efficiency gains are already having a major impact on how we manage our time, and it seems clear that this impact will only grow as the Web economy continues to.

The ‘on-demand’ ethos so prevalent in freelance working is also having an influence on a huge number of other aspects of life; including a 59% reduction in fulfilment times across the most commonly used web platforms; enhanced flexibility in the delivery of goods and services; and businesses ability to reach a wider customer base – all boons for consumers and businesses alike.

It is estimated that the online business market will grow by an average of +21% year on year. With technology evolving almost by the minute, it’s a sure bet that efficiency savings and customer experience will increase correspondingly.

Xenios Thrasyvoulou founder of PeoplePerHour comments: “ In 2014 the web economy had a projected value of £1.4trillion, and that figure is set to rise to a staggering £1.8trillion for 2015.’

‘The web economy is here to stay and all the time savings we are making in our business and personal lives are only going to improve. With the likes of Uber, PeoplePerHour and now SuperTasker we’re fast making everything on demand.‘