75% of Indian desk workers using AI tools to drive productivity, Slack report

A new report by Slack reveals that Indian organisations are leading the way in adopting artificial intelligence (AI) and automation tools to enhance employee productivity and streamline workflows.

Titled ‘State of Work,’ the report surveyed more than 2,000 Indian desk workers and found that 75 per cent of them have adopted AI in their work, making India one of the global leaders in AI adoption. The report also found that those who use AI are 53 per cent more likely to report significantly higher levels of productivity than those who do not.

According to the report, AI and automation can help Indian desk workers save an average of 3.6 hours a week by automating routine tasks, such as getting expense report approvals. This translates to at least one working month a year that can be used for more meaningful and strategic work.

The report also uncovered other trends that define modern work and drive employee productivity in the age of hybrid work. Most employees surveyed in India say that flexible work schedules are one of the best ways for their employer to support their productivity. They also prefer a flexible location (36 per cent) and unique workplace benefits, such as providing lunch or recreational activities (32 per cent).

But there are challenges in creating a productive and healthy work environment. For instance, only 19 per cent of executives globally encourage asynchronous work, such as sharing status updates. Moreover, over a third (35 per cent) of global employees cite spending too much time in meetings as a top productivity challenge, and 43 per cent of them say that their meetings could be eliminated with no real adverse consequences.

The report also emphasised the importance of job satisfaction, engagement, and mental wellness for productivity. The majority (94 per cent) of employees in India say that feeling happy and engaged at work is a key driver of their productivity. But 53 per cent of employees globally say that they feel pressure to respond to messages quickly, even if they’re sent after standard working hours. Indian Express