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

Third-party services in public rail transport

Customer: European railway transport company

On behalf of a European railway transport company, SCI Verkehr defined and assessed potential services for third parties in regional rail transport. The objective was to develop new business fields and to prepare the market entry. For this purpose, SCI Verkehr identified services along the entire value chain in regional rail passenger transport and assessed their marketability. In the context of the project, initial talks with potential customers (transport companies, authorities, providers) have already been held.

Commercial due diligence for rail vehicles

Customer: Strategic investor

As part of an acquisition process, SCI Verkehr supported a client with a commercial due diligence (CDD) in the rail vehicle segment. A particular focus was on the analysis of the target and the synergies of its portfolio with the client´s existing business.

Commercial due diligence of locomotive lessor in Eastern Europe

Customer: Private equity investor

On behalf of a private equity investor, SCI Verkehr carried out a Commercial Due Diligence of a locomotive lessor in the Eastern European rail freight transport market. This Commercial Due Diligence also comprised an in-depth asset evaluation of used locomotives by means of the DCF and DRC methodology, which provided a detailed analysis of the special situations in individual Eastern European markets.

Market Analyses Examples

World market for rail vehicles and wheels 2014

Customer: International rail component supplier

SCI Verkehr updated an analysis of the worldwide markets for railway vehicles and specific components with a strong focus on production sites of the vehicles and developed a forecast for the coming years. There was a special focus again on wheelsets in Europe.

Further development and continuous updating of a worldwide monitoring tool for projects and competition for a component manufacturer in the rolling stock industry

Customer: Manufacturer of rolling stock components

For a globally active manufacturer of rolling stock components, SCI Verkehr compiled and is continuously updating a monitoring tool for markets and projects. 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 assessment of the existing vehicle fleet enables potential to be tapped in the after-sales segment. The competitor analysis shows changes in the sector environment as well as the strategic activities of relevant players. This information forms the central basis for the client to plan their distribution activities. The latest results can be accessed at any time in a client-specific internet platform.

Brief assessment of locomotive leasing in Europe

Customer: Financial investor

On behalf of a financial investor, SCI Verkehr assessed the future development of the market for locomotive leasing with a focus on Central Europe. The analysis included supply and demand as well as critical success factors.

Asset Valuations Examples

Asset valuation of used shunting locomotives

Customer: Rail vehicle manufacturer

On behalf of a rail vehicle manufacturer, SCI Verkehr prepared an update of an asset valuation of used shunting locomotives. The locomotives were valued using the cost-based DRC method. One focus was on the changes in the market environment, in particular price increases and product shortages.

Asset valuation of new dual-mode locomotives

Customer: Financier of rail vehicles

In the context of a procurement of new locomotives, SCI Verkehr prepared an asset valuation using the cost-based RC method, taking into account the expected price development as well as supply and demand in the relevant market.

Update of a theoretical value trend analysis for freight wagons

Customer: Freight wagon leasing company

On behalf of a freight wagon leasing company, SCI Verkehr prepared regular updates of a theoretical value trend analysis for new freight wagons. In this update, the short- and medium-term effects of the Russian war in Ukraine were included for the first time.

Public Consulting Examples

Development of activities for opening new markets for small-business enterprises in Central and Eastern Europe

Customer: Ministerium für Wirtschaft und Mittelstand, Technologie und Verkehr des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen (The Ministry for Economy and Small Business, Energy and Traffic of State North Rhine-Westphalia) Main contractor and project management: h.e.a.D. GmbH, D

Preparation of preliminary study ?Development of activities for opening new markets in Central and Eastern Europe for small business enterprises from Target-2-Areas in North Rhine Westphalia" with identification of market potential and individual projects and the establishment of contacts with project carriers in Poland, Romania, the Czech Republic, and Hungary. Consultancy service to and support of small and medium-sized enterprises from North Rhine Westphalia in market development in the chosen countries. Development of a catalogue of activities and servicing concept and of the corporate structure of PPP-Gesellschaft WIR.NRW GmbH with inclusion of State NRW and the enterprises for the sustained support of NRW companies when entering the market in the target countries. Installation of Beteiligungsgesellschaft (associated company) IN.NRW AG for NRW companies. Preparation of project structure for the implementation of the North Rhine-Westphalia ??????..for the Central and Eastern Eurpean countries.

Local transport Westphalia€“Lippe study RRX corridors

Customer: Local transport Westphalia-Lippe

SCI Verkehr prepared a study concerning supplementary plans of local transport in Westphalia-Lippe along four RRX corridors in Westphalia. The effects of the plans on mobility, economy and the environment in Westphalia-Lippe were examined. Included were, inter alia, analyses of passenger transport potentials, travel times, commuter traffic, connections to the other forms of public transport and environmental impacts. The results were prepared in a recipient-oriented way and were published by the PTA Nahverkehr Westfalen-Lippe.

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 surveyed.

Profitability Analyses Examples

Strategic concept freight wagon division

Customer: Railway operator

SCI Verkehr supports a leading railway operator in the conceptual reorganisation of essential parts of rail freight transport. For this purpose, available concepts are reviewed and new approaches to advancing this field of business are developed and evaluated. It is aimed at achieving higher efficiency in this segment by reorganising responsibilities and processes in production and sales.

Supporting change processes and personnel planning of a rail freight transport company

Customer: Rail freight transport company

A leading provider of rail freight transport services is planning to reorganise its customer support according to market requirements. SCI Verkehr was commissioned to evaluate envisaged and partly already implemented measures and to support coordinating personnel planning in terms of participation .

Process optimisations Examples

Strategic realignment of leading European freight railway

Customer: Leading European freight railway

The commissioning railway company active in European rail freight transport is in an economically strained situation with clearly decreasing market shares, declining transport services and unsatisfactory performance. Defined objectives of the company are to increase production stability, reorganise operations of sales and production as well as increasing productivity and economic improvement of selected areas of operation. SCI Verkehr was commissioned to monitor and accompany the process as expert consultant.

Support in compiling an offer for the rout—related tender of local rail transport services in the Bielefeld region (North Rhine Westphalia)

Customer: Stadtentwicklungsbehörde der Freien und Hansestadt Hamburg

SCI Verkehr has supported a railway transport company in compiling a competitive wettbewerbsfähigen transport offer. We have compiled of all important documents as well as a marketing-strategic consultancy for compiling the offer. The client has been awarded the contract.