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

Strategic market outlook: Demand for traction units in European rail transport until 2030

Customer: leasing company

On behalf of a leasing company, SCI Verkehr is analysing the demand for assets in European rail transport. The developments in both rail freight and passenger transport up to the year 2030 are examined more closely in order to derive specific requirements in the locomotive and multiple unit segment.

Preparation for a maintenance strategy of rail vehicle components

Customer: Component manufacturer

On behalf of a component manufacturer, SCI Verkehr investigated the sales potential as well as the competitive landscape in the market for the maintenance of certain rail vehicle components in selected countries in Europe, North America and Australia. Initial recommendations for strategic planning for the client were derived from the market and competition analysis. In a further phase, a concrete strategy was developed together with the client.

Input presentation on strategic development potential

Customer: European rolling stock manufacturer

The client successfully operates in the European rolling stock construction segment and requires professional input on issues of global market and competition development within the scope of its annual strategy workshop with management and the supervisory committee. The focus is on the potential in the US market. SCI Verkehr compiled a presentation which represents the basis of the strategic discussion as a source of facts and motivation.

Market Analyses Examples

Creation and maintenance of a worldwide project monitoring tool

Customer: Components manufacturer

For a manufacturer of rail vehicle components, SCI Verkehr created a continuously maintained project monitoring system. With this monitoring, the data and facts critical to success and decision-making were mapped. The customer thus received information on the relevant vehicle projects and can initiate necessary product developments in time.

Fleet database, project outlook and market forecast

Customer: Rolling stock manufacturer

On behalf of a rolling stock manufacturer, SCI Verkehr annually provides global market data for strategic planning. These include a fleet database comprising all current rolling stock, a project outlook of expected projects and tenders as well as a market forecast for future sales potentials.

Support in restructuring process in rail freight transport

Customer: International leading company in rail freight transport

SCI Verkehr supported a leading European rail freight transport company in central restructuring processes. For this purpose, SCI Verkehr developed own and analysed existing market expectations. At the same time, benchmarks regarding the entrepreneurial organisation of production and sales units were been developed. SCI Verkehr prepared, accompanied and evaluated the processes for implementing the restructuring.

Asset Valuations Examples

Fleet appraisal used freight wagons

Customer: Bank group

On behalf of an international bank group, SCI Verkehr appraised a large fleet of used freight wagons within a sale and lease back transaction. SCI Verkehr analysed the competitive situation of the freight wagons in the market and conducted an appraisal based on earning power and asset value approaches.

Valuation of electric locomotives for Italy

Customer: International leasing company

On behalf of a leasing company, SCI Verkehr prepared a short assessment of electric locomotives for Italy with a view to a sales and lease back contract. The valuation was carried out using the income-based DCF valuation method, according to IVS 2022.

Market valuation of locomotives and freight wagons

Customer: Freight rail

On behalf of a European rail freight operator, SCI Verkehr determines the market value of the company's own fleet of locomotives and freight wagons. The market value is determined taking into account a special accounting standard with a cost-based valuation approach including the current supply and demand situation for the corresponding assets.

Public Consulting Examples

Conception and realisation of a series of workshops "Optimisation in Logistics"

Customer: NEW.S

The social partner project Nordrhein-Westfälische ErnährungsWirtschaft e.V. (NEW.S) commissioned SCI Verkehr to develop a "logistics report for the food industry in NRW" last year. This includes a number of optimisation approaches and recommendations for action, which reflect the complexity of the demands on logistics in the food industry. With the series of workshops ?Optimisation in Logistics? the client wants to encourage the detailed discussion of proposed optimisation approaches and solutions. SCI Verkehr is taking over the preparation of the entire content and managing the workshop series ?Optimisation in Logistics?. This includes developing the concept, detailed planning, acquiring speakers and press relations.

Environmental criteria in short-distance passenger rail transport competition

Customer: Allianz pro Schiene

On behalf of Allianz pro Schiene, SCI Verkehr is analysing the importance of ecological-related decision-making criteria within the German competition market for short-distance passenger rail transport. For this, environmental criteria are going to be analysed with regard to completed awards of short-distance passenger rail transport services and their future importance.

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.

Profitability Analyses Examples

Marketability of a product innovation

Customer: Service provider

On behalf of a client, SCI Verkehr is analysing the marketability of an innovation for rail freight transport. The product is still in the development stage - therefore the willingness to pay of potential customers and the economic viability of the development are to be checked at an early stage.

Evaluation of different effects of Digital Automatic Coupling (DAK) on the performance of rail freight traffic

Customer: Railway undertaking

On behalf of a railway undertaking, SCI Verkehr is analysing the effects of the introduction of Digital Automatic Coupling (DAK) on the performance of rail freight transport. As part of a meta-study, SCI Verkehr summarises the results of various studies on the DAK and its effects in line and shunting operations and evaluates them with regard to an increase in capacity after the successful migration of the DAK after 2030.

Feasibility study on alternative drives

Customer: Public transport authority

SCI Verkehr was commissioned by a public transport authority to prepare a feasibility study on the planned use of alternatively powered rail vehicles. The focus of the analyses was on the economic feasibility of hydrogen and battery-powered trains in terms of operation, energy and infrastructure. A life cycle cost (LCC) model from SCI was applied. The aim of the study was to determine the economically and operationally optimal drive technologies against the background of the existing and future infrastructure of various networks, for example with regard to charging and refuelling processes.

Process optimisations Examples

Process improvements in production

Customer: Midsized producer in the food industry

A midsized company in the food industry had to generate significant savings in the production processes in order to remain competitive in the market. SCI Verkehr identified saving potential in production and hosted the subsequent dialogue between the works council and management.

Maintenance location and portfolio assessment

Customer: maintenance specialist

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

Supporting changes in a production company

Customer: Global player in the food industry

In the context of restructuring, a global enterprise in the food industry intends to close a logistics site and several production sites in Germany as well as to reorganise further core departments. SCI Verkehr surveys the plans and supports the process of negotiating a reconciliation of interests. Also, alternative scenarios are developed and moderated in this context.