Consumers are increasingly relying on sharing-economy services for everyday convenience, with food delivery, home-sharing, and task management platforms now deeply embedded in modern digital life.
According to Saifr, a recent survey conducted by MarketSight on behalf of Saifr revealed that 77% of consumers used delivery apps in the past year, 56% engaged with home-sharing services, and 29% relied on task-based gig platforms. Almost half of respondents said they use these services weekly or daily, suggesting a high level of dependence. However, 43% reported avoiding these platforms altogether, often due to concerns around trust and safety—underscoring a major hurdle to broader adoption.
The survey also found that awareness of how contractors on these platforms are vetted remains low. A majority of both users and non-users were unaware that many platforms conduct only a one-time background check and then re-screen contractors as infrequently as once a year. This limited oversight raises potential red flags—especially in scenarios where consumers invite service providers into their homes. For users already hesitant to engage with sharing platforms, the lack of transparency around contractor monitoring is a serious deterrent.
Even among current users, confidence in the vetting process is far from universal. Just 62% said they “completely” or “somewhat” trust how contractors are screened, while nearly a quarter of non-users said they do not trust the process at all. These figures suggest a direct link between consumer uncertainty about monitoring practices and reduced platform participation.
The research makes clear that consumers want more robust and ongoing safety protocols. Nearly half of all respondents—users and non-users alike—said that gig-economy platforms should implement real-time monitoring of contractors. Among users, 58% indicated they would be more likely to increase their usage if they knew such practices were in place and would not raise costs. Even non-users showed interest, with 29% stating continuous monitoring might encourage them to start using these platforms.
Millennials, already the largest demographic engaging with gig services, were especially supportive, with 52% saying they would use such services more frequently if they knew real-time monitoring was active. Surprisingly, baby boomers—often less engaged with digital platforms—also responded positively, with 53% of non-users in this age group indicating they would reconsider if better monitoring tools were used.
Implementing continuous monitoring offers service providers a strategic edge. First, it helps reduce exposure to fraud and legal liabilities by flagging risky behaviour before it escalates. Second, it builds trust and loyalty among users, giving them confidence that platforms are proactively protecting them. Third, it can attract new users who are currently sitting on the sidelines due to safety concerns. And finally, it can serve as a clear differentiator in a competitive marketplace where security is becoming a key value proposition.
Today, sharing-economy businesses no longer need massive internal teams to monitor every contractor. AI-driven technologies such as SaifrScreen offer an efficient alternative, enabling real-time risk detection through adverse media scanning. These automated systems help platforms maintain oversight at scale without sacrificing operational agility.
As digital services continue reshaping consumer expectations, trust and transparency are emerging as the new currencies of growth. For sharing-economy platforms aiming to scale sustainably, investing in continuous monitoring could be the key to unlocking greater user loyalty and long-term success.
Saifr recently deepened its collaboration with Microsoft to launch a new AI-powered Communication Compliance Agent.
The new tool is now available through the Microsoft Azure AI Foundry, building on Saifr’s existing integration within Microsoft’s AI ecosystem.
This product launch addresses the growing need in regulated industries—especially financial services—for smarter, more efficient ways to produce compliant content. As the financial sector adopts generative AI tools, ensuring that outputs remain within the bounds of regulatory frameworks is becoming a critical challenge. Saifr’s latest solution is designed to tackle this issue directly.
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