Waterway Transportation Software Market Report 2026

The waterway transportation software market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $81.79 billion in 2025 to $89.04 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.9%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to digitalization of shipping operations, growth of global trade, early fleet management software adoption, port automation initiatives, logistics optimization needs.

The waterway transportation software market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $118.84 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.5%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to smart port development, ai-driven route optimization, sustainability-focused shipping operations, demand for end-to-end visibility, cloud migration of maritime software. Major trends in the forecast period include adoption of cloud-based maritime platforms, growth of real-time vessel tracking, integration of port management systems, expansion of predictive analytics, demand for freight visibility.

Increasing maritime trade activities are expected to drive the growth of the waterway transportation software market. Maritime trade activities involve the commercial exchange of goods and services via sea routes using ships and vessels. The growth of maritime trade is driven by globalization, expanding markets, advanced shipping technologies, new routes, rising global demand for goods, and improvements in infrastructure and economic policies. Waterway transportation software supports maritime trade by optimizing vessel scheduling, route planning, cargo logistics, regulatory compliance, and real-time communication among stakeholders. For instance, in September 2023, according to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), a Switzerland-based intergovernmental body, maritime trade was projected to grow by 2.4% in 2023, with further increases of over 2% anticipated between 2024 and 2028, while containerized trade volumes were forecast to rise by 1.2% in 2023. Therefore, increasing waterborne trade activities are driving the growth of the waterway transportation software market.

Major companies in the waterway transportation software market are leveraging technologies such as cloud-based transport management systems to stay competitive and improve operational efficiency. Cloud-based transport management systems offer functionalities including route optimization, real-time tracking, inventory management, freight scheduling, and performance analytics, accessible from any internet-connected device. For instance, in September 2023, CocoonFMS Ltd., a UK-based logistics software company, launched CocoonOPS, its latest transport management system designed to enhance operations for freight forwarders. CocoonOPS provides real-time shipment tracking for air, sea, road, and rail, along with features like demurrage and detention cost calculations, customizable workflows, automated tasks, and document generation, particularly supporting small and medium-sized businesses.

In February 2025, Tidalis B.V., a Netherlands-based maritime technology and digital solutions company, acquired Made Smart Group B.V. for an undisclosed amount. This acquisition aims to expand Tidalis’ digital port-call optimization capabilities, strengthen its presence in maritime workflow automation, and enhance its portfolio of intelligent, data-driven solutions for shipping, port operators, and maritime logistics networks. Made Smart Group B.V. is a Netherlands-based technology company specializing in digital workflow tools, operational planning platforms, and collaboration solutions that improve efficiency, transparency, and coordination across maritime and port operations.

Major companies operating in the waterway transportation software market report include Maersk A/S, Oracle Corporation, SAP SE, ABB Ltd, Accenture plc, Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation, Zebra Technologies Corporation, Flexport Inc., DNV GL AS, Descartes Systems Group Inc., Aquatic Informatics Inc., LogiNext Solutions Pvt. Ltd., Jibe, Geniuserp, FourKites Inc., Trans-I Technologies Inc., Bass Software Solutions, Zero North, Veson Nautical Corporation, ABS Wavesight, FRETRON, Nautical Corporation, XPV Water Partners, Danaher Corporation, Hidrovuas do Brasil.

North America was the largest region in the waterway transportation software market in 2025. Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the waterway transportation software market report include Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the waterway transportation software market report include Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The waterway transportation software market consists of revenues earned by entities by providing tracking, scheduling, and managing logistics services for waterway transportation. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. The waterway transportation software market also includes sales of computers, networking devices, sensors, GPS systems, communication devices, and other specialized equipment. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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