Business programme
Start-Up, Scale-Up by Lloyds Bank Academy
What online services can do for you
Unlock the benefits of doing your day to day tasks online.
Introduction to 'What online services can do for you'
How can online services help you with your day-to-day life? Well, they could save you time, money – or both.
We asked people how being online has helped them to do this (PDF, 5.3Mb).
Here's what we found:
79%
Shopped around online to save money.
3 in 5
Saved when booking travel online.
More than half
Benefited by booking appointments online.
In this lesson, we’ll get you started by exploring some of the things you can do online. Some of these might help save you time and/or money, Or they could just make life that little bit easier for you.
What you'll learn
- What household and admin tasks you can do online.
- Local services you can book online.
- How online tools can help you plan and manage your travel.
How long it takes
10 minutes
Household and admin tasks
Chapter 1
How long it takes
1 minute
Saving time on your everyday tasks
Managing a home and everyday admin can feel like a constant juggling act. The good news is, online tools can help turn that around.
Whether it’s paying bills, booking appointments, storing important documents or even automating reminders for life’s little tasks, these tools can help you stay on top of things. Once you’ve set them up, they can make everyday tasks quicker, easier and more manageable. Leaving you more time for the things that really matter.
Let’s look at a few examples. We’ve included links to some of our other lessons here, too. Use these to find out more about each one.
Everyday tasks you can do online:
Use Government services
By going online, you can apply for benefits, file your taxes and check your pension details.
Contact your local council
For example, to access care services, check bin collection days or report potholes.
Look after your money
Bank online to check your balance and make payments, or use tools that can help you budget or save.
Shop
Whether you’re looking for groceries, clothes or gifts, shopping online can be a real time-saver.
Pay your bills and utilities
With instant access to your accounts, go online to pay bills, check your usage, and even look for better deals online.
Plan and manage your travel
Websites, apps and online maps can help you book a cheap flight, check when the next bus is due or even avoid traffic jams.
Renew your insurance
Using online tools, you can compare and apply for insurance policies or check on your existing cover.
Manage dates and appointments
Reminders on your phone or smart speaker let you know when it's time to send that birthday card or book your car's MOT.
Accessing local services
Chapter 2
How long it takes
3 minutes
Supporting local businesses online
From getting a haircut to ordering a takeaway, we often have favourite local services. Going online doesn’t mean replacing yours. It can even be a way of supporting them.
How this helps local businesses:
They can reach more people
Many local shops use online services to reach more people. Like when someone searches for ‘plumbers near me’.
It's working for them, 24/7
People can check shop opening hours, get directions and book online, even when they’re closed.
It saves them time
Ordering online means the business can spend less time on the phone, and more in the shop.
It can help their reputation
Social media posts and online reviews can help to raise their profile and build customer trust.
What local services can I use online?
-
You can’t get an online haircut, but you can book a haircut through your local salon’s website. Nail bars and other beauty salons often have similar sites and apps.
You’ll find a list of their services, prices and availability. Use their system to pick the service you want and who you want to do it.
You can also look for salons online using a search engine.
More on this topic
Want to know more about how search engines can help you find these and other services?
Our Search for information online lesson can help.
-
Feeling hungry? Whether you’re dining out, meeting friends for a coffee or getting a takeaway, you can start online. This could be finding somewhere to eat, checking out menus or comparing local cafés.
Many restaurants and takeaways let you order online for collection and delivery. Some have their own website where you can order. Others use food delivery services like Deliveroo, Uber Eats and Just Eat.
Idea
Most food delivery services have their own apps.
Find and download these from your device’s app store.
-
Most doctors now have a website. Some will use it to give you advice and resources. Others use systems like PATCHS and Patient Access to let you book an appointment or check test results – no need to phone!
To find your local GP online, the NHS have a search tool you can use. The NHS app can help too – for instance, when you want to order a repeat prescription.
Just like doctors’ surgeries, how much you can see or do on a dentist’s website will vary. Some only give you advice and information. Others let you book, register and look up the prices of treatments. The same is true for other healthcare providers, like physiotherapists, speech therapists and pharmacies that offer vaccinations.
More on this topic
We cover this in more detail in our ‘Managing your healthcare online’ lesson.
-
There are different levels of councils. County councils usually look after things like education and transport. District, borough, city, town, parish and community councils look after things like council tax and rubbish collections.
The government website has a helpful tool to help you find your local council. Once you type in your postcode, it will direct you to their website. Depending on what you want to do, you should be able to find help or advice. Some councils also have online systems for you to create an account and carry out your tasks.
Most councils will offer online guides to help with:
- Bins and recycling
- Admin around births, marriages and deaths
- Business help
- Community concerns
- Council tax
- Environment and health issues
- Housing benefits
- Parking
- Penalty notices
- Planning and building
- Roads
- Schools and learning
- Social care
Planning trips and travel
Chapter 3
How long it takes
6 minutes
Why arrange travel online?
Book or change your travel on the go
There’s no need to go to a ticket booth or a travel agent. Everything you need is on your device. So when plans change, you can amend or cancel your travel plans – at home or on the move.
Plus, you can keep all your documents in one place on a mobile device.
Save money by comparing prices
Price comparison sites let you see lots of travel options and prices all in one place. This means you don’t need to waste time going from provider to provider, to find the best deal.
Our Comparison sites lesson can tell you more.
What travel services are online?
Here’s a few ideas of online tools that can help you plan your trips and manage your journeys.
Travel research and review sites
Use Google and sites like Trivago, TravelSupermarket and TripAdvisor to research, compare and check reviews of hotels, airlines and holiday companies.
Airline websites and travel platforms
Book and manage your flights check itineraries, and receive e-tickets. Most airlines have both websites and mobile apps, so you can check your flight status wherever you are.
Online maps and navigation apps
Plan your routes, look up attractions and find your way around unfamiliar places with apps like Google Maps, Citymapper and What3Words.
Parking apps
Pay from your phone using apps like Ringo and PayByPhone – no need to hunt for change or find a working payment machine. Others like YourParkingSpace and JustPark let you pre-book your parking space.
Road user sites and apps
Find out about planned road closures and other disruptions, before you set off.
Start with the national sites for England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Travel insurance comparison sites
Compare providers and find the deal that’s right for you.
Our ‘Compare insurance for better value’ lesson can help you find and use these sites.
Translation tools
Going abroad?
Free tools like Google Translate, Microsoft Translator and the AI tool ChatGPT can help you speak to people you meet or read local signs or menus.
Booking your travel and trips online
Booking your travel online is about making choices that fit your preferences and budget, and these simple steps ensure you're in control of your journey.
Let’s look at how to book your travel online. These steps apply whether you're booking flights, trains, coaches, ferries, buses, or trams.
Step 1
Search
Use a travel planning tool (like Skyscanner, Kayak or Trainline) to look for flights, trains, coaches, ferries or other transport options.
Check what’s available – look at costs, times, availability and what’s included.
Step 2
Compare
Most platforms let you filter and compare results , whether it’s different providers or various routes and times. For example, a direct train might be faster but one with changes or at an earlier / later time might be cheaper.
Step 3
Select
You may be starting here, if you already know your provider and how you’ll travel.
Pick the option that works best for you - like a quiet train carriage or a window seat. You may even be able to book a specific seat. Some choices may cost extra, so do check.
Step 4
Details and payment
You’ll be asked for details like passenger information, plus how you’ll pay.
Always check the site or app is secure before you give your card details. Not sure how to do this? Our Shop online lesson has a chapter on how to pay safely.
Step 5
Confirmation
After payment, you'll receive a confirmation email. This should show the details of your booking, whether it's a ticket for a train, flight, or other mode of transport.
Check these details carefully, and if anything’s wrong, let the provider know as soon as possible.
Idea
With the Railcard app or website, you can buy railcards that can save you money on each journey you take.
It’s now possible to buy and use Railcards directly from the Trainline app too. This makes it easy to keep everything in one place.
Staying safe when you book online
By using websites and companies you trust, you can reduce your chance of getting scammed. Always check the reviews for the sites and sellers you’re using. Ask around, to see if anyone you know has used them. Online criminals can sell fake bookings online, so take the time to stop and check.
Stop
Does this offer or product seem too good to be true?
Check
Does the site or seller have trusted, positive reviews?
Go
Do you feel confident to continue with your booking?
Want to learn more about keeping safe when you’re using online services?
Check out our lesson ‘Ten tips for staying safe online’.
Using online maps and navigation apps
On the move? Accessing maps online can be really useful. Most search engines have maps built into them. When you search, select the ‘maps’ tab at the top to see and access these.
Other navigation tools include:
For all modes of transport
Google Maps and Citmapper both let you choose whether you’re driving, walking or using public transport.
Walking and cycling
Planning a run, walk or bike ride? Try apps like Plotaroute and MapMyWalk.
How to use maps
Set start and end location
Some apps let you add extra stops in between, too.
Pick how you want to travel
Like your mode of transport, plus whether you want to avoid motorways or toll roads.
Start your navigation
You’ll get a set of directions to look at before you set off, or just follow as you go.
Be aware
Sometimes it can be easier to use maps through an app, especially if you are on a mobile device.
If you’re in a car or can’t use your phone safely, maps can usually speak the directions out loud to you.
Activity
Think about a recent trip you had. How do you think your trip could've been better, easier or cheaper using online services?
Try using some of the services we have covered in this lesson to explore some ideas.
Want to learn more?
Using the internet and online services
Build your digital confidence
Lloyds Bank Academy is committed to providing information in a way that is accessible and useful for our users. This information, however, is not in any way intended to amount to authority or advice on which reliance should be placed. You should seek professional advice as appropriate and required. Any sites, products or services named in this module are just examples of what's available. Lloyds Bank does not endorse the services they provide. The information in this module was last updated on 4th June 2026.