The article defines the main directions for the formation of a digital platform and the key principles of the goal of implementing digitalization in relation to inland water transport. A systematic approach to the analysis of the problems of digitalization of inland waterway transport is proposed, including a set of graphical and matrix models characterizing this sub-sector of transport and logistics. The main components of the concept "Smart inland water transport" are considered and outlined. Considering this, promising directions for the development of information and telecommunication and intelligent services for inland water transport are formulated. A SWOT analysis of the digitalization of the industry was also carried out, as a result of which management strategies in inland water transport were proposed taking into account the identified strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats. In the final part of paper basic aspects of introduction of active information systems during inland water transport digitalization, structure of such systems and problems of their creation and functioning are considered. The presented models allow us to characterize and visualize the problems of the formation of "end-to-end" technologies of inland water transport, as part of the problems of the digital economy, to outline the directions of integration of information resources and approaches to "expanded" organizations, including all those interested in the implementation of relevant transport services.