Relevancy is often the missing ingredient in today’s Web-connected world. Many (most?) Web users lack the time and/or patience to master the myriad little tricks necessary to become an efficient user of the Web. FIND/SVP’s latest research report indicates that 51% of the 27 million adult Internet users have searched for local information within the past three months. I bet most were disappointed with the results.

While it’s easy to find specs online for the latest generation server, or a brochure for the latest sedan out of Detroit or Tokyo, how do you quickly find relevant information on hotels in Boston? It’s still far easier to pick up the phone and call your travel agent than to research and book the accommodations online. But give the medium another five years and we bet you’ll never call a travel agent again, on the phone that is. Why? There will be no reason to. Your agent will anticipate your needs and deliver highly relevant alternatives right to your computer desktop. All you have to do is select the best option and hit enter.

Banks will automate personal finance tasks in much the same way travel agents automate travel bookings. Customers won’t come to you for balance info. You’ll deliver it directly to their computer desktops each morning along with the previous day’s transactions. Customers won’t need to write a check for the electric bill. You’ll pay it for them based on pre-defined preferences. Customers won’t have to visit your Web site to see how their retirement savings are progressing. Each day you’ll recalculate the value of their entire portfolio and e-mail a summary. And once a month or so you’ll include advice on making up any shortfalls against the plan. Finally, customers won’t have to lose sleep worrying about fraud and identity theft. Whenever suspicious activity occurs (based on previous usage) in an account or credit bureau file, you’ll send an immediate e-mail and/or voice message.