At the start of the coronavirus pandemic, Key's Paycheck Protection Program operation ran on cloud-native technology, permitting the bank to meet high demand.

"We also leveraged digital assistants to help with common questions related to government stimulus and other pandemic programs," Kirk said. "These technologies provided us with an ability to meet the surge in demand very quickly, especially in support of our Paycheck clients."

Through June 30, Key ranked seventh on the list of the nation's top PPP lenders, with over 41,000 loans, according to Small Business Administration data.

Relationships with tech behemoths Google and Cisco keep Key abreast of technological advances, an effort buttressed by internal tech forums that have become a fount of knowledge and best practices. Onboarding new innovations will always be a challenge, though company-sponsored hackathons help speed adoption of new technologies and practices.

"There needs to be a methodology on when to bring something in or upgrade, otherwise you will always be chasing a moving target," Kirk said. "Allowing our teams to experiment and understand the technology while still providing support in their day-to-day activities is a balancing act."

The Deloitte survey notes that investment into emerging technology is prioritizing information security, the adoption of 5G technology and business innovation. John Nicholas, a professor of business and information technology at University of Akron, said disruptive technologies carry unlimited potential for all industries. For example, a repair company could utilize the IoT a system of physical devices accessed through the internet that identify themselves to other online devices to remotely fix a refrigerator.

"Every company has to start looking as far into the future as they can," Nicholas said. "They should be going to conferences outside of their industry to see if an idea can be used for Product X. It may become possible for someone in Australia to have a part built by a manufacturer in Strongsville. They can send a 3D photo, then have the file loaded into whatever machine is making the part."

Caesar said cutting-edge tech is an "innovation driver" for Hyland as well as an essential facet of its growth strategy. "We're paying attention to the challenge of these emerging technologies and what they mean to the world," he said. "We're very interested in it."

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Emerging technology remains an 'innovation driver' for NE Ohio companies - Crain's Cleveland Business