MOSCOW (Realist English). Office employees across Russia spend up to four hours a day on routine work, according to a joint study by NAFI Analytical Center and Yandex 360, published on June 18. The findings highlight a growing need for efficient digital tools that could improve productivity, free up time for strategic and creative work, and streamline team collaboration.
Tasks that most frequently consume employee time include document management and storage (55%), collaborative editing (55%), email communications with clients and contractors (52%), messenger-based file sharing (51%), and preparing materials for meetings (49%).
Among workers responsible for meetings, interviews, presentations, and document editing, over 58% reported spending more than an hour daily on these duties. Respondents emphasized that more user-friendly digital tools could significantly reduce this burden.
In large organizations (1,000+ employees), digital overload is even more pronounced. About 30% of employees in such firms said they spend between two and four hours daily communicating via email with external partners. Moreover, 15% reported spending more than four hours a day on document collaboration alone.
The study also identified common productivity barriers:
- Switching between different services like email, messengers, and cloud storage (28%)
- Difficulty locating files (27%)
- Challenges in real-time collaboration (27%)
- Lack of centralized file repositories (23%)
These issues are especially acute in companies with complex branch networks, where 31% of employees noted difficulties coordinating collaborative work. In such firms, 17% also faced problems accessing key services, and 16% spent excessive time sorting through emails.
Despite these challenges, digital adoption is accelerating.
- 58% of respondents use cloud storage
- 51% rely on electronic document management systems
- 39% utilize video conferencing with screen sharing and recording features
- 38% use online document editors
In large enterprises, use of electronic document management reaches 60%.
Roman Korolev, Commercial Director of Yandex 360, noted that AI-powered features like the Telemost “Summary” tool can save employees up to an hour per day, especially those with tight schedules. “Automated summaries, cross-platform storage of recordings, and integrated workflows significantly reduce the time spent on routine operations, freeing up employees to focus on high-value work,” he said.
Survey participants indicated they would use this reclaimed time for:
- Long-delayed projects and new initiatives (42%)
- Professional development (41%)
- Problem-solving and innovation (27%)
- Internal engagement and company initiatives (23%)
34% said better tools would also reduce overwork, giving them more time to rest and recover.
Notably, 76% of employees in companies that have not yet adopted modern digital tools expressed a desire to integrate them into their workflow.
The most valued features across platforms include:
- Cross-device access
- Smart search and spam filtering
- Real-time collaboration and automatic reminders
- Version history and secure document recovery
As hybrid and digital office models become the norm, the study underscores a critical shift: from task execution to task optimization, where intelligent digital ecosystems drive both efficiency and employee well-being.
