DeepL Survey: Japanese Companies Spend Approximately 20% of Working Hours on 'Language Tasks'
DeepL announced survey results showing that Japanese business professionals spend an average of 20.2% of their working hours on language-related tasks. It highlights expectations for real-time voice translation to solve these issues.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 7, 2026 at 19:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 7, 2026 at 10:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 21, 2026 at 01:19 (326h 48m after Collected)
Tokyo, Japan – April 7, 2026 – DeepL, a global company developing AI products and research, today announced the results of its latest survey on the 'language barrier' and real-time voice translation in Japanese companies. According to the survey, it was found that an average of 20.2% of working hours in Japanese companies is spent on language tasks such as additional translation and confirmation. Furthermore, over 80% of the decision-making level has experienced lost orders or delayed decisions due to the language barrier, answering that an average of 4.8 opportunity losses occurred in the past year. This survey was conducted targeting 1,000 business professionals (500 decision-makers, 500 general employees) working in medium-to-large Japanese companies (300 or more employees), quantitatively analyzing the impact on operational efficiency, decision-making, psychological safety, and communication structure.
The 'Language Barrier' Influencing the Productivity of Japanese Companies
The language barrier has a significant impact on the daily operations of Japanese companies.
- It was found that in Japanese companies, approximately 20% (an average of 20.2%) of working hours is spent on additional language tasks such as translation, confirmation, and waiting time. Converting this percentage to an annual working hour basis, it is calculated that each business person spends approximately 380 hours (equivalent to about 47 business days) annually on language tasks*.
- Furthermore, over 80% of the decision-making level has experienced lost orders or delayed decisions due to the language barrier, answering that an average of 4.8 opportunity losses occurred in the past year.
- Impacts were also seen in recruitment, with decision-makers tending to have a higher awareness of the issue than general employees. About 30% of decision-makers feel that there is a 'shortage of applicants' or that 'it takes time to get up to speed after joining' due to the language barrier.
Foreign Language Environment Also Affects Opportunities to Speak in Meetings
The language barrier affects not only operational efficiency but also participation behavior in the workplace.
- Approximately 30% of all respondents answered that they feel it is 'difficult to ask questions or speak up' in meetings.
- General employees are relatively more prone to psychological burden than the decision-making level, and there was a tendency for psychological safety to be lower in meeting environments involving foreign language interactions.
Expectations for Real-Time Voice Translation
Against the backdrop of these challenges, expectations for real-time voice translation are rising.
- The results revealed that voice accounts for an average of about 30% of business communication involving foreign languages, indicating ample room for the utilization of real-time voice translation.
- With the introduction of real-time voice translation, 'moderate improvement' is expected in time loss, outsourcing costs, and decision-making lead time.
- Regarding the effects of introducing voice translation, 60.3% of all respondents answered that 'the number of speakers will increase,' indicating high expectations for vitalizing discussions in meetings.
This survey has made it clear that the 'language barrier' in Japanese companies affects not only daily operational efficiency but also the foundation of organizational culture, such as the speed of decision-making, psychological safety, and fairness of speaking opportunities. On the other hand, expectations for highly accurate real-time voice translation are rapidly rising. Prospects for improvement after introducing voice translation include 'faster decision-making,' 'increase in speakers,' and 'vitalization of meetings,' clearly showing quantitative expectations for positive effects.
Removing the language barrier with technology goes beyond streamlining operations; it promotes building a fair environment for speaking independent of nationality, language, or background, leading to the creation of a foundation that enhances the organization's decision-making power, creativity, and competitiveness. DeepL supports Japanese companies in solving global communication challenges through highly accurate Language AI and real-time voice translation.
Gonzalo GayoLas, Chief Product Officer at DeepL, stated:
'This survey clearly shows the actual impact that the long-standing language barrier in Japanese companies has on productivity and opportunity creation.'
The 'Language Barrier' Influencing the Productivity of Japanese Companies
The language barrier has a significant impact on the daily operations of Japanese companies.
- It was found that in Japanese companies, approximately 20% (an average of 20.2%) of working hours is spent on additional language tasks such as translation, confirmation, and waiting time. Converting this percentage to an annual working hour basis, it is calculated that each business person spends approximately 380 hours (equivalent to about 47 business days) annually on language tasks*.
- Furthermore, over 80% of the decision-making level has experienced lost orders or delayed decisions due to the language barrier, answering that an average of 4.8 opportunity losses occurred in the past year.
- Impacts were also seen in recruitment, with decision-makers tending to have a higher awareness of the issue than general employees. About 30% of decision-makers feel that there is a 'shortage of applicants' or that 'it takes time to get up to speed after joining' due to the language barrier.
Foreign Language Environment Also Affects Opportunities to Speak in Meetings
The language barrier affects not only operational efficiency but also participation behavior in the workplace.
- Approximately 30% of all respondents answered that they feel it is 'difficult to ask questions or speak up' in meetings.
- General employees are relatively more prone to psychological burden than the decision-making level, and there was a tendency for psychological safety to be lower in meeting environments involving foreign language interactions.
Expectations for Real-Time Voice Translation
Against the backdrop of these challenges, expectations for real-time voice translation are rising.
- The results revealed that voice accounts for an average of about 30% of business communication involving foreign languages, indicating ample room for the utilization of real-time voice translation.
- With the introduction of real-time voice translation, 'moderate improvement' is expected in time loss, outsourcing costs, and decision-making lead time.
- Regarding the effects of introducing voice translation, 60.3% of all respondents answered that 'the number of speakers will increase,' indicating high expectations for vitalizing discussions in meetings.
This survey has made it clear that the 'language barrier' in Japanese companies affects not only daily operational efficiency but also the foundation of organizational culture, such as the speed of decision-making, psychological safety, and fairness of speaking opportunities. On the other hand, expectations for highly accurate real-time voice translation are rapidly rising. Prospects for improvement after introducing voice translation include 'faster decision-making,' 'increase in speakers,' and 'vitalization of meetings,' clearly showing quantitative expectations for positive effects.
Removing the language barrier with technology goes beyond streamlining operations; it promotes building a fair environment for speaking independent of nationality, language, or background, leading to the creation of a foundation that enhances the organization's decision-making power, creativity, and competitiveness. DeepL supports Japanese companies in solving global communication challenges through highly accurate Language AI and real-time voice translation.
Gonzalo GayoLas, Chief Product Officer at DeepL, stated:
'This survey clearly shows the actual impact that the long-standing language barrier in Japanese companies has on productivity and opportunity creation.'