diff --git a/ProcessMaker/Jobs/BpmnAction.php b/ProcessMaker/Jobs/BpmnAction.php
index f78ddaf647..d962355794 100644
--- a/ProcessMaker/Jobs/BpmnAction.php
+++ b/ProcessMaker/Jobs/BpmnAction.php
@@ -194,13 +194,13 @@ private function lockInstance($instanceId)
             for ($tries = 0; $tries < $maxRetries; $tries++) {
                 $currentLock = $this->currentLock($ids);
                 if (!$currentLock) {
-                    if (ProcessRequest::find($instanceId)) {
+                    if (ProcessRequest::query()->whereKey($instanceId)->exists()) {
                         $lock = $this->requestLock($ids);
                     } else {
                         throw new Exception('Unable to lock instance #' . $this->instanceId . ': Request does not exists');
                     }
                 } elseif ($lock->id == $currentLock->id) {
-                    $instance = ProcessRequest::findOrFail($instanceId);
+                    $instance = $this->findProcessRequestForBpmnAction($instanceId);
                     $this->activateLock($lock);
 
                     return $instance;
@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@ private function findInstanceWithRetry($instanceId)
 
         for ($attempt = 0; $attempt < $totalAttempts; $attempt++) {
             try {
-                $instance = ProcessRequest::findOrFail($instanceId);
+                $instance = $this->findProcessRequestForBpmnAction($instanceId);
 
                 return $instance;
             } catch (ModelNotFoundException $e) {
@@ -344,6 +344,23 @@ private function mSleep($milliseconds)
         usleep($microseconds);
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Load ProcessRequest with relations used when wiring the BPMN engine (reduces N+1 during completeTask / other BPMN jobs).
+     *
+     * @param  int|string  $instanceId
+     */
+    private function findProcessRequestForBpmnAction($instanceId): ProcessRequest
+    {
+        return ProcessRequest::query()
+            ->with([
+                'process',
+                'processVersion',
+                'collaboration',
+            ])
+            ->whereKey($instanceId)
+            ->firstOrFail();
+    }
+
     public function __destruct()
     {
         $this->instance = null;
diff --git a/ProcessMaker/Models/ProcessRequest.php b/ProcessMaker/Models/ProcessRequest.php
index 57509fe823..3bbc15d934 100644
--- a/ProcessMaker/Models/ProcessRequest.php
+++ b/ProcessMaker/Models/ProcessRequest.php
@@ -848,8 +848,12 @@ public function updateCatchEvents()
     public function mergeLatestStoredData()
     {
         $store = $this->getDataStore();
-        $latest = self::select('data')->find($this->getId());
-        $this->data = $store->updateArray($latest->data);
+        // Read only the JSON column without hydrating a full ProcessRequest row (called often during BPMN transitions).
+        $latestData = static::query()->whereKey($this->getKey())->value('data');
+        if (!is_array($latestData)) {
+            $latestData = [];
+        }
+        $this->data = $store->updateArray($latestData);
 
         return $this->data;
     }
diff --git a/tests/Feature/Api/TaskControllerUpdateResponseTimeTest.php b/tests/Feature/Api/TaskControllerUpdateResponseTimeTest.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..923622f82e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/Feature/Api/TaskControllerUpdateResponseTimeTest.php
@@ -0,0 +1,92 @@
+<?php
+
+namespace Tests\Feature\Api;
+
+use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Notification;
+use Mockery;
+use ProcessMaker\Facades\WorkflowManager;
+use ProcessMaker\Models\ProcessRequestToken;
+use ProcessMaker\Models\User;
+use Tests\Feature\Shared\RequestHelper;
+use Tests\TestCase;
+
+/**
+ * Response-time assertions for TaskController::update (COMPLETED and reassign paths).
+ *
+ * Set TASK_UPDATE_MAX_RESPONSE_MS in the environment (milliseconds) to tighten or relax the limit.
+ * Default is 20000 ms so CI stays stable; use a lower value locally to catch regressions.
+ *
+ * @group process_tests
+ * @group task_update_timing
+ */
+class TaskControllerUpdateResponseTimeTest extends TestCase
+{
+    use RequestHelper;
+
+    private function maxResponseTimeMsForTaskUpdate(): int
+    {
+        $env = getenv('TASK_UPDATE_MAX_RESPONSE_MS');
+        if ($env !== false && $env !== '' && is_numeric($env)) {
+            return (int) $env;
+        }
+
+        return 20000;
+    }
+
+    private function assertResponseWithinMs(float $elapsedMs, int $maxMs, string $label): void
+    {
+        $this->assertLessThanOrEqual(
+            $maxMs,
+            $elapsedMs,
+            "{$label}: request took " . round($elapsedMs) . "ms, limit {$maxMs}ms (set TASK_UPDATE_MAX_RESPONSE_MS to adjust)"
+        );
+    }
+
+    public function testCompleteTaskUpdateResponseTime(): void
+    {
+        $maxMs = $this->maxResponseTimeMsForTaskUpdate();
+
+        $token = ProcessRequestToken::factory()->create([
+            'user_id' => $this->user->id,
+            'status' => 'ACTIVE',
+        ]);
+
+        WorkflowManager::shouldReceive('completeTask')
+            ->once()
+            ->with(Mockery::any(), Mockery::any(), Mockery::any(), Mockery::any());
+
+        $params = ['status' => 'COMPLETED', 'data' => ['foo' => 'bar']];
+
+        $started = microtime(true);
+        $response = $this->apiCall('PUT', '/tasks/' . $token->id, $params);
+        $elapsedMs = (microtime(true) - $started) * 1000;
+
+        $response->assertStatus(200);
+        $this->assertResponseWithinMs($elapsedMs, $maxMs, 'PUT api/tasks/{id} (status=COMPLETED)');
+    }
+
+    public function testReassignTaskUpdateResponseTime(): void
+    {
+        $maxMs = $this->maxResponseTimeMsForTaskUpdate();
+
+        $assignee = User::factory()->create();
+        $token = ProcessRequestToken::factory()->create([
+            'user_id' => $this->user->id,
+            'status' => 'ACTIVE',
+        ]);
+
+        // Prevent notification errors by faking the notification system
+        // The factory generates random element_ids that don't exist in the BPMN document
+        Notification::fake();
+
+        $started = microtime(true);
+        $response = $this->apiCall('PUT', '/tasks/' . $token->id, [
+            'user_id' => $assignee->id,
+            'comments' => 'response time test',
+        ]);
+        $elapsedMs = (microtime(true) - $started) * 1000;
+
+        $response->assertStatus(200);
+        $this->assertResponseWithinMs($elapsedMs, $maxMs, 'PUT api/tasks/{id} (reassign)');
+    }
+}