There's been plenty of press surrounding the ways that technology has rescued businesses from the pandemic abyss. From remote work solutions to robotic process automation systems, it's fair to say business would have ground to a halt if not for technology. But for restaurants, there was very little that technology could do to help at the outset of the pandemic.

Aside from online ordering systems and curbside pickup, restaurants had few options to help stay up and running as in-person dining became untenable. And that led to the restaurant industry suffering some of the worst economic losses of the entire pandemic. But even with the massive challenges they faced, there are still some restaurants eking out a bare existence as 2021 begins.

The good news for them is that there are now quite a few technological options that can help them put 2020 behind them and roar back to life this year. To help them to do that, here's a list of the technologies restaurants should invest in today to bounce back from the pandemic this year.

1. Touchless Ordering and Payment Systems

One of the biggest problems restaurants face in the aftermath of the pandemic is convincing customers that it's safe to return to dining in. Repeated surveys indicate that a majority of consumers remain hesitant to abandon takeout and pickup options as in-person restrictions ease. And who can blame them? After rushed attempts to reopen restaurants turned many into clusters of infection, it won't be easy to convince people to start coming back again.

But a great place to start would be to roll out touchless ordering and payment options that limit contact between staff and patrons. And it's never been easier to do so. Right now, countless restaurant POS systems allow this, and customers are receptive to it. Vendors like Square have made setting up a QR-code ordering system a snap, and countless others have followed. It's a continuation of a pre-pandemic restaurant tech trend that's now become essential to success in the 'new normal', and a needed first step on the path back to full dining rooms.

2. Digital Sanitation and Transparency

Possibly the toughest reality that restaurants have to face when trying to reopen safely is the fact that there won't be any second chances. All it will take is a single (real or imagined) outbreak in their facility and it will likely spell disaster. But there are some technologies that can help restaurants avoid that fate, all while providing very visible evidence to customers that cleanliness is a top priority.

The first is the use of digital restaurant kitchen cleaning checklist systems. They make it possible for anyone - management or customer - to assess the cleanliness of the facility's kitchen in real-time. And to back it up, restaurants can also opt to offer live streaming video from inside their kitchens so customers can watch the staff's attention to safety details as their food is prepared. That will go a long way toward convincing wary diners that the all-important food prep areas are just as safe as the dining room they're sitting in.

3. HVAC Filtration and Sterilization Systems

For a while now, it's been apparent that closed indoor spaces are among the hardest to keep clean in terms of viral transmission. But it's not impossible to do it. All throughout 2020, HVAC manufacturers have been working to find ways to use ventilation systems to help prevent virus transmission indoors. And they've made tremendous progress on several fronts.

First are HEPA and other extra-efficient filtration technologies. As add-ons, these systems have been proven effective in preventing viral spread through HVAC systems. But they're not the only option. Restaurants can also install high-powered far-UVC lighting systems that sterilize the air as it circulates through the dining room. Doing this turns the restaurant's HVAC airflow into a constant disinfection mechanism. And as for aesthetics, restaurants can install versions of the technology that look just like standard pendant table lighting.

The Bottom Line

Any way you look at it, restaurants face a long hard climb back to profitability this year. But they can take some comfort in knowing that the tech world is catching up to offer them some valuable tools to help them get there. And new technology is still coming. There are already multiple fully-robotic kitchen systems coming to market that promise lower labor costs and the ultimate in touchless food preparation in the very near future.

In the meantime, though, restauranteurs will have to exploit the technology that is available to get their businesses back to running safely and at something close to full capacity. And with some luck, much like Zoom and SaaS providers became the business heroes of 2020, a new crop of restaurant and facilities technology firms will emerge as the restaurant industry heroes of 2021 and beyond.