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

Commercial Due Diligence for railway services

Customer: Private equity investor

On behalf of a private equity investor, SCI Verkehr made a Commercial Due Diligence (CDD) for a railway service provider. SCI Verkehr evaluated potentials and risks of the company as well as of its various business segments in the respective market environment.

Potential of the leasing business in the European rail transport market

Customer: Asian conglomerate

On behalf of an Asian conglomerate SCI Verkehr is analysing the development of the rail transport markets in Eastern and Western Europe. The project focuses on identifying market potential in the leasing business and developing a market-entry strategy.

Evaluation operational excellence in logistics centre

Customer: Global player of the beverage industry

In 2012, SCI Verkehr carried out an "Operational Excellence Project" at a logistics site of a beverage manufacturer. As part of the project, the operational logistics processes were developed completely new and logistics infrastructure were adapted to the changed processes. Six months after completion of the project, SCI Verkehr evaluated the project results at the site to keep the (logistics) performance at a high level.

Market Analyses Examples

Technology benchmark and analysis of customer requirements for product development

Customer: Industrial company

For the purpose of supporting the development of a product in the railway technology industry SCI Verkehr performed an analysis of customer requirements as well as a technology benchmark. We investigated products with similar functions from the leading markets for railway technology such as Europe, Russia, China, India and Japan, and identified innovative solutions from other technological sectors (defence technology, shipbuilding, aerospace, bridge construction, etc.), which could be adapted for railway technology.

Market shares freight wagon manufacturers Australia

Customer: International manufacturer of rail freight wagon components

On behalf of an internationally active manufacturer of rolling stock components, SCI Verkehr analysed the development of market shares of manufacturers, active in the Australian freight wagon market in the past years.

Systematic analysis and development of business areas for the strategic development of a rail engineering company

Customer: Rail engineering company

Market analysis, market entry obstacles, technical and economic prerequisites, profitability analysis and implementation concepts for different business areas within the company.

Asset Valuations Examples

Vehicle assessment rail freight fleet

Customer: International bank

On behalf of a refinancing bank, SCI Verkehr determines the current vehicle value of a rail freight fleet. Value assessment of these vehicles operated on the Iberian Peninsula is built on the cost-based DRC assessment approach and considers results of a supply and demand analysis of locomotives and freight wagons.

Portfolio evaluation for refinancing

Customer:

On behalf of a leading leasing company, SCI Verkehr prepared a comprehensive market and evaluation report on a large European rail vehicle fleet. The fleet, consisting of passenger vehicles, locomotives and freight wagons, was valued using a cash flow-based approach and the valuation methodology and results documented in a comprehensive report.

Market and asset valuation Open Access transport

Customer: Private railway operator

SCI Verkehr was commissioned by a private rail transport operator to assess the future potential for Open Access transport in various European markets. For this purpose, transport market and infrastructure development, the competitive situation and regulation were analysed. In addition, SCI Verkehr assessed the market value of passenger coaches according to the cost approach based on IVS 2020.

Public Consulting Examples

RAILTEST- Examination of European testing facilities.

Customer: European Commission

In cooperation with European consulting and research establishments (ARRC (UK); ERRI (the Netherlands); Holland Railconsult (the Netherlands)), all testing facilities in Europe are examined, as are the potential synergies between them. SCI Verkehr emphasises the investigation of testing facilities in Germany, Switzerland and Austria and is carrying out a comprehensive synergy analysis of all European facilities.

LogistikCluster NRW

Customer: LOG-IT Club e.V.

In autumn 2015, LogistikCluster NRW entered a new phase. The cluster's activities will focus even more intensively on the topics of growth, innovation and digitalisation. SCI Verkehr organises all technical and organisational activities for the LOG-IT Club e.V. in close cooperation with the Association of the Transport Industry and Logistics.

Monitoring regional rail transport tenders Germany

Customer: Transport industry association

On behalf of a transport industry association, SCI Verkehr compiles an overview of all German regional rail transport tenders from 2016 to 2025, which is updated on a regular basis. Focus is placed on current wage and social standards, in particular. The SCI DATABASE, in which all announced and expected regional rail transport tenders are compiled systematically, serves as basis for this analysis.

Profitability Analyses Examples

VDD in the intermodal transport segment

Customer: Railway undertaking company

SCI Verkehr has supported a rail undertaking in the intermodal transport segment at a VDD process. SCI Verkehr has prepared documents for the data room regarding market definition, size and development, including forecast and drivers of the market. Thereby it considered also regulations, innovations and competition. SCI Verkehr has analysed the business model of the client and prepared basic information such as KPI that were relevant for the process.

Economic feasibility study for factory fleet

Customer:

SCI Verkehr was commissioned to examine the economic viability of a large fleet of factory vehicles for the distribution of an industrial company. To this end, scenarios were developed as to how general conditions would have to change in order to increase the profitability of the fleet.

Process optimisations Examples

Bid management maintenance services

Customer: International maintenance provider for rolling stock

SCI Verkehr supported an international maintenance provider for rolling stock and components with regards to bid management for services in the external market. This included conceptual, economic and editorial assistance in the context of tender preparation as well as operational and organisational support in the bid process.

Examining the shutdown of a logistics location

Customer: Global player in food industry

A major company in the food industry is intending to close a location in Germany and replace it with a pure cross dock to slim down stocks and save costs. However, the supply quality for customers must not suffer. The task is to examine and assess the planned measures with regard to plausibility and their logistical effect.