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

Periodic Market Monitoring Rail Market

Customer: Financial service provider

SCI Verkehr supported a financial service provider with a regular high-level monitoring report on the European rolling stock market. In the scope of the project, SCI Verkehr provided a report on a quarterly basis including the most important events with a focus on railway operators, manufacturers and leasing companies.

Benchmarking of production techniques and construction materials

Customer: Supplier of sub-systems

On behalf of a supplier of sub-systems, SCI Verkehr has benchmarked different production methods and construction materials for a component. Especially the comparison between railway technology and other mobile applications is supposed to illustrate adaptation possibilities of solutions from other areas.

Support in a refinancing process for a locomotive portfolio

Customer: Rail vehicle leasing company

SCI Verkehr supported a leasing company in a refinancing process and prepared a comprehensive report with a market and competition analysis for this purpose. A special focus was placed on the analysis of the marketability of the assets, taking into account new technologies and environmental guidelines.

Market Analyses Examples

Compilation and updating of a project monitoring tool

Customer: Manufacturer of rolling stock components

For a globally active manufacturer of rolling stock components, SCI Verkehr created and is continuously updating a project monitoring tool. This monitoring tool presents the data and facts essential for success and decision making. The client receives information on relevant vehicle projects and can thus develop projects and initiate necessary product developments in good time. The latest results can be accessed at any time in a client-specific internet platform.

Talk on logistics in the beverage industry

Customer: Training centre

In the context of an expert forum for the beverage industry, SCI Verkehr prepared a talk on current logistic issues and actively discussed with participants of the meeting.

Fleet data Europe

Customer: Group

On behalf of a customer, SCI Verkehr compiles a detailed fleet database comprising rolling stock in Europe. Key figures such as quantities, delivery period as well as technical parameters are included.

Asset Valuations Examples

Valuation of used electric mainline locomotives

Customer:

On behalf of an operator, SCI Verkehr evaluated a fleet of used mainline locomotives with electric drive. The value of the locomotives was determined by means of a net asset value method, whereby revisions and the replacement of components that have already taken place were also included in the valuation.

Updated valuation of rail vehicle portfolio

Customer: International leasing company

On behalf of a leasing company, SCI Verkehr is valuing its rail vehicle portfolio, consisting of passenger vehicles and freight locomotives. SCI Verkehr is preparing an update of the existing DCF valuation with a particular focus on the impact of the COVID 19 crisis on rail transport.

Asset valuation of tank wagons and container wagons

Customer: Investor

On behalf of a European leasing company, SCI Verkehr evaluates a fleet of new and used tank and container wagons. Valuation is conducted by means of DCF and DRC methods and considers the wagon-specific supply and demand situation.

Public Consulting Examples

End of Runway Logistics - market targeting by suppliers

Customer: Company for economic development

In the future, air freight services will be provided more and more as complex logistical solutions within the scope of contracted logistics projects. For sites located near international airports this offers the opportunity for new settlements and therefore to generate new jobs. On behalf of a company for economic development SCI Verkehr GmbH is investigating the possibilities for bringing contracted logistics projects relating to air freight to the site. For the initial review of the situation SCI Verkehr carried out interviews with the leading providers of air freight services in Germany. From this review we will develop a strategy for the next steps for the company for economic development.

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.

Evaluation of an annual business survey of the logistics industry in Hamburg

Customer: Logistik Initiative Hamburg e.V.

SCI produces an annual evaluation of data on the general economic situation of companies in the logistics sector in Hamburg. The data is compared with the SCI LOGISTIKBAROMETER and thus placed in a nationwide context. Members´ assessments of the work of the commissioning initiative are also evaluated.

Profitability Analyses Examples

Development opportunities for a private siding in the Ruhr valley

Customer: Industrial company

An industrial wasteland in the centre of the Ruhr Valley is the subject of plans for new industrial and/or logistical development. With regard to marketing the areas, it has to be decided whether to keep the existing private siding and, if so, in what form. SCI Verkehr has derived a railway-related development concept based on the relevant technical, legal and economical factors. It includes various different strategies for the detailed conversion of the area needed to best meet the requirements of the (still unknown) companies wishing to locate in the area, the sequence of the development stages, costs and revenues from construction and operation and how these would be distributed between involved parties. With the aid of well-founded/backed up documents, SCI Verkehr has been able to accompany the entire decision process regarding the dismantling or keeping of the private siding.

Market potentials and vehicle concepts for intercity transport in Europe

Customer: Financial investor

On behalf of an investor, SCI Verkehr is analysing the market potential for (cross-border) intercity connections in Europe. In addition to evaluating routes with regard to a possible shift of short-haul flights to rail, SCI Verkehr also compares possible vehicle concepts with regard to their investment costs and performance parameters.

Market analysis painting raw materials

Customer: Globally active chemical company

On behalf of a globally active chemical company, SCI Verkehr analysed the market potential for painting raw materials. The in-depth analysis evaluated the market potential for these materials and provided a basis for further strategic planning.

Process optimisations Examples

Optimization of logistical and transport costs

Customer: Industrial company

In the context of European production location integration into the worldwide logistics concept, storage and transport processes are adapted; benchmarking of service providers.

Development of offer for line-related tender invitations of RPST services in the State Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

Customer: Stadtwerke Schwerin / Mecklenburgbahn GmbH

Analysis of tender invitation, specification of performance profile and offer support for the public tender for several routes of the rail-bound passenger short-distance transport of the State Mecklenburg-Vorpommern within the scope of the regionalisation of the RPST; Start-up of operation of the Mecklenburg railways based on the 1st offer scheduled for June 2001.

Assistance in realising a pilot project in the field of electronic ticketing

Customer: Midsized railway technology company

Our client had developed an innovative system for electronic fare management, which it wished to have tested in practice. In addition, the acceptance of the company was necessary as well as funding. SCI Verkehr took part in the project and assisted the client in quickly satisfying the necessary requirements for using the system in commercial operation.