Strategic business consulting for the railway and logistics industry

SCI Verkehr is a medium-sized, sustainability-oriented consultancy focussing on strategic issues in the international rail and logistics business. We support our business partners in optimising their processes and evaluating their assets. We help to analyse markets and develop sustainable and tailor-made strategies for the future. This includes, among other things: Accompanying M&A activities, realising climate targets, optimising the portfolio or existing processes, and opening up new markets and business areas.

Strategic Management Consultancy Examples

Market screening "railway technology" to identify new business fields

Customer: Railway industry supplier

On behalf of a systems supplier, SCI Verkehr carried out a market screening of the integrated system "railway technology? to evaluate new business fields for the company. The business fields to be identified were to be evaluated both by their market development and by their synergies with existing business fields. As a result, a list was derived of possible M&A targets that exist in the business fields identified and fit in with the company or its path for expansion.

Process support for location changes of an industrial company

Customer: Industrial company

A company with several production and logistics sites is looking to change its network of locations due to the current market development. SCI Verkehr examined the planning process and advised the general works council of the company.

Efficiency increases of a locomotive fleet

Customer: European rail freight operator

On behalf of a European rail freight transport operator, SCI Verkehr increased efficiency of the locomotive fleet directly during operation within production. For this purpose, SCI Verkehr analysed the situation of the existing locomotive fleet of the company, on the basis of which, we created a strategy to increase efficiency during operation which could directly be implemented. Locomotive demand in transport performance, reliability and availability as well as maintenance requirements were particularly considered in detail.

Market Analyses Examples

Presentation global infrastructure markets

Customer: Global railway infrastructure company

Within the framework of an international strategy meeting, SCI Verkehr presented current trends and developments in the global market for railway infrastructure. The main focus was on global network development, important infrastructure projects and anticipated future product and service requirements.

Analysis of the demand for electric locomotives

Customer: International financial investor

On behalf of a potential investor, SCI Verkehr determined the future demand for new electric locomotives for selected European core markets. The development of the market environment, the customer and the offer were taken into consideration for this purpose.

Analysis of logistics sites focusing particularly on rail connections

Customer: Company for economic development

Sidings and direct railway connections have played virtually no role at all when marketing sites over the past years. With the rising problems for road freight transport (traffic jams, transport capacity bottlenecks), logistical concepts making use of the railways are becoming ever more interesting for the freight shipping industry. On behalf of a transregional company for economic development SCI Verkehr is examining three former industrial sites with regard to their logistical suitability, taking into particular consideration the tracks existing at the sites. The result of the study is a marketing concept focusing specifically on those companies with a tendency to transport goods by rail.

Asset Valuations Examples

Determining fair value of used diesel railcars

Customer: International Leasing Provider

SCI Verkehr determines the current fair value of a used diesel railcar fleet. Valuation is conducted by means of an income-based method, which considers future rental income and redemption conditions.

Valuation of a freight wagon portfolio

Customer: Freight wagon investor

On behalf of an investor, SCI Verkehr appraised a freight wagon portfolio based on both the DCF approach as well as the DRC approach, i.e. based on revenue as well as replacement costs of the fleet.

Value appraisal car-carrier wagons

Customer: Leasing company

On behalf of a leasing company, SCI Verkehr creates a valuation appraisal for modern car-carrier wagons by means of the cost-based DRC method. The appraisal is based on an analysis of the supply and demand situation in the freight transport market for automobiles and commercial vehicles.

Public Consulting Examples

Specialist lecture on developments in the railway industry

Customer: Business development agency

SCI Verkehr speaks to selected participants from the rail industry in Brandenburg about development prospects of the global railway industry and their significance for the rail transport centre Brandenburg.

Competence-net Logistics.NRW

Customer: LOG-IT Club e.V.

In April 2018, the competence-net Logistics.NRW was launched as innovation and partner network of the state of NRW. Activities of the network are directed at the subject areas of innovation and digitalisation in particular. On behalf of LOG-IT Club eV., SCI Verkehr, in close cooperation with the alliance of transport economics and logistics, organises all specialist and organisational activities related to continuous networking.

Modern Railways Shanghai

Customer: Conference society

Contact to and acquisition of railway engineering companies for their participation in the international ?Modern Railways? conference in Shanghai, September 22-25, 2003.

Profitability Analyses Examples

Maintenance location and portfolio assessment

Customer: maintenance specialist

Definitions of the optimal location and performance for a vehicle workshop in western North Rhine Westphalia.

Evaluation of vehicle options to support a local transport tender

Customer: Railway transport company

On behalf of a railway transport company, SCI Verkehr compiled an independent assessment of the advantages and disadvantages of various vehicle options in connection with a local transport tender. The realistic consideration of the potential operation of new and/or second-hand vehicles played an important role in this evaluation.

Process optimisations Examples

Expert support for planned logistical changes

Customer: Midsized brewery

A midsized brewery planned to make comprehensive changes to its logistical structures based upon the expertise of an external advisor. This mainly concerned the warehouses at the production site. SCI Verkehr carried out a cross-check of the assumptions and calculations. Furthermore, SCI Verkehr accompanied the dialogue process between the works council and management on the basis of a technical expertise.

Consultancy services for negotiations regarding follow-up infrastructure contract

Customer: Industrial company

The contract between DB Netz AG and an industrial company concerning the operation of a siding was unilaterally terminated and is going to be replaced by a new agreement to terms in line with the market. SCI Verkehr advised the siding operator on all technical and strategic issues, independently conducted the dialogue with DB Netz AG, reviewed all essential documents and took part in the official negotiations for the contract.