# Aided Efficiency Consumers turn to their phones to streamline productivity. By [Shelby Lee Walsh](https://www.trendhunter.com/shelby), President | Published Jan 31, 2013 | Category: [Tech](https://www.trendhunter.com/pro/category/technology-trends-and-gadgets) Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/efficiency-apps-consumers-turn-to-their-phones-to-streamline-productivity ## Key Figures - Trend score: 2.9/10 - Evidence articles: 6 ## What is the Aided Efficiency trend? **Aided Efficiency:** Consumers are looking to maximize their time and optimize their workflow for a better work-life balance. Everything from email communication to taxi hailing is becoming fine-tuned in order to shave off valuable hours, minutes and even seconds from consumer lives via their phones, tablets and laptops. Mobile immediacy and efficiency is a growing sector in nearly every industry. ## At a Glance - Evidence: 6 featured examples - Articles from: Aug 15, 2012 to Jan 4, 2013 - Published: Jan 31, 2013 - Patterns: [Reduction](https://www.trendhunter.com/pattern/reduction) - Megatrends: [Simplicity](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/simplicity), [Artificial Intelligence](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/artificial-intelligence) ## Audience - Gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Themes within the Aided Efficiency trend ### Mobile immediacy and efficiency With consumers looking to maximize their time and optimize their workflow for a better work-life balance, there is tremendous opportunity in creating mobile apps that help streamline day-to-day tasks across industries ### Disruptive texting applications As more and more people rely on text messaging for communication, there is opportunity for app developers to revolutionize the experience with powerful prediction engines, touch less typing capabilities and new features for the blind community ### Gift card management apps With gift cards accounting for almost $100 billion of the shopping economy, there is room for innovation that can make it easier for consumers to purchase, manage and send gift cards across platforms ## What the Aided Efficiency trend means for industry ### For Ride-hailing industry In the competitive industry of ride-hailing, there is opportunity for app developers to streamline the hailing process and create value for both riders and drivers through convenient features ### For Technology industry As the world becomes increasingly connected, there is room for app developers to create innovative technology that bridges communication gaps and streamlines everyday tasks ### For Retail industry As gift cards continue to be a popular choice for holiday season presents, there is an opportunity for retailers to partner with gift card management apps in order to make gift card purchases easier for their consumers ## Trend signals for Aided Efficiency Trend score 2.9 out of 10, from popularity 47%, activity 32%, freshness 8%. - Popularity: 47% - Activity: 32% - Freshness: 8% ## Examples of the Aided Efficiency trend 6 featured examples from Aug 15, 2012 to Jan 4, 2013. - [Magic Text-Predicting Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fleksy-app): The Fleksy Touchscreen Keyboard can Even be Used by the Blind (Category: Tech) Implication: The Fleksy App can potentially disrupt the tech gadget industry by redefining user interactions with touchscreen keyboards. - [Taxi-Hailing Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/zabkab): The ZabKab App Ensures Cabs Will Come Straight to You (Category: Tech) Implication: The transportation industry can adopt ZabKab's technology to enhance the experience of hailing a taxi for both passengers and drivers. - [Money-Saving Parking Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/parking-spot-app): ParkMe Will Find Users the Lowest-Priced Spots Near Their Destination (Category: Autos) Implication: Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop new mobile applications that leverage GPS technology to offer innovative solutions for everyday problems like parking. - [Streamlined Email Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mailbox-app): The Mailbox App Makes Dealing with an Inundated Inbox Easier (Category: Tech) Implication: The Mailbox app presents an opportunity for mobile app developers to create innovative solutions for efficient email management. - [Photographic Contact Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cardign-app): The Cardign App Lets You Add a Person's Info by Snapping a Photo (Category: Tech) Implication: The growing popularity of photographic contact apps creates opportunities for innovative mobile application development, particularly focusing on contact management and networking. - [Gift Organization Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/gift-card-management): Collect, Manage and Send Gift Cards With Easy-Using Gyft (Category: Tech) Implication: As gift organization apps like Gyft gain traction, the mobile app development industry can capitalize on the opportunity to create similar platforms that optimize gift card manage… ## Recent trend clusters - 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