The ARDA Newsletter      December 2022 
 
The Growth and Impact of Mobile Applications within the Rail Industry
 
Technology Committee Feature
 
By James Landavazo, Manager Economic Development
BNSF Railway Company
 
 
Today, we are surrounded with many technological advancements that assist us in our daily routines. The development of the Apple iPhone, the first realized smartphone, in 2007 had a tremendous impact in society and continues to spur changes in the way technology is developed. Part of the changes observed in technology was with the advent of mobile applications that are designed to run on mobile devices. These mobile applications have transformed the way society and business function. The development of mobile applications has placed information at our fingertips and helped businesses enhance safety, improve efficiency, and transform the customer experience. This article will examine how mobile applications are impacting the rail industry.
 
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Evolution of Mobile Applications
Mobile applications for smartphones have been around since 1993 mainly in the form of built-in applications such as Address Book, Calculator, Calendar, Mail, Note Pad, etc. Although these initial applications were basic, they spurred the technology sector to consider how mobile applications could evolve and be useful. The introduction of the iPhone in 2007 by Apple, initiated the growth of mobile applications. In 2008 Apple released the App Store that provided society with 522 applications, thus creating what is now a booming technology industry. The Covid-19 Pandemic further ignited mobile app development as companies pivoted to adapt to the changing environment. The sharp rise in app development was driven by limited access to purchase goods and services in person. Today, there are over 4.8 million apps available between Apple and Android devices. These apps provide the end user the ability to perform multiple functions in their daily routines. Apps can be used to read the news, order food and goods, gain directions with built in estimate time of arrival, and track shipments. With so much information and ability in the palm of our hands, it has driven businesses to make modifications to their technology road maps and consider how mobile apps can be used by employees and customers. 
 
 
Click the link below to read more!

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REGISTRATION IS OPEN!
The 2023 Executive Forum is quickly approaching! The forum will be held at the Grand Bohemian hotel in Orlando, FL on February 1-3, 2023. We have a great lineup for this year as we anticipate another successful event!
 
EARLY BIRD PRICING ENDS DECEMBER 31ST!
Early Bird Pricing is $345 for members and $395 for non-members. After December 31st, the price increases to $395 for members and $445 for non-members. Click the link below to register for the event before early bird pricing ends! 
 
Additional details about the event can be found on our website at www.amraildev.com!
 
To receive the member rate, please make sure you have renewed your membership and are logged in to your ARDA account!

 
ARDA Sponsorship Renewals Are Currently Open! 
 
We are so grateful to our sponsor companies, as the strength and quality of our events and programming are primarily due to these sponsorships. If your organization plans to sponsor for the 2022-2023 year, please submit the sponsorship pledge form by December 16, 2022.
 
Please visit the link below to access the 2022-2023 pledge form.

Thank you sponsors!
 
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Renew Your ARDA Membership or Join Now

If you have not yet renewed your ARDA membership for 2022-2023, please visit our website at www.amraildev.com and log-in at the top right corner of the page. 

Your renewed membership allows ARDA to continue fostering the industrial, real estate, natural resources, market development activities and environmental concerns of the North American railroads through the advancement of ideas and education of its members.

If you are not an ARDA member and would like to join, please visit our registration page. To register, scroll to the bottom and select membership option active.
 

 

American Railway Development Association | PO Box 1092, Tallahassee, FL 32302

 

The  American Railway Development Association (ARDA) is a not-for-profit educational trade association founded in 1906 to promote Economic Development, Real Estate Development, Technology, and Environmental Activities of the North American Railroads.   The objectives of the Association are to foster the industrial, real estate, natural resources, market development activities and environmental concerns of the North American railroads; and through the advancement of ideas and education of its members, further promote the effectiveness of railway development and related work. For more information, visit the ARDA website at http://amraildev.com