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

Condition surveillance systems for rail vehicles

Customer: International electronics specialist

SCI Verkehr analysed different global markets with regard to condition vehicle surveillance systems with a special focus on Europe. The systems within the market as well as the drivers for the introduction of such technologies were analysed based on the market development up to 2014.

Market entry barriers Swedish rolling stock market

Customer: Rolling stock manufacturer

On behalf of an Asian rolling stock manufacturer, SCI Verkehr analyses barriers to enter the market for new rolling stock in Sweden.

Commercial Due Diligence of bus manufacturer

Customer: Financial investor

On behalf of a financial investor, SCI Verkehr conducted a commercial due diligence on a globally active bus manufacturer. Focus was put on the analysis of future development potential of the core markets as well as the future expected competitive situation of the target. Moreover, a business plan entailing the assumptions of the management regarding the target´s development opportunities was examined.

Market Analyses Examples

Project overview construction and refurbishment projects of rail vehicles

Customer: Global industrial enterprise

On behalf of a global industrial enterprise active in the railway sector, SCI Verkehr determined all the current and future acquisition and refurbishment projects for passenger rail vehicles. The project list is updated semi-annually.

Commercial Due Diligence Manufacturer of track components

Customer:

SCI Verkehr supported a financial investor in conducting commercial due diligence (CDD) in the railway infrastructure sector. A full CDD report was prepared. Special attention was paid to individual European focus countries.

Determination of market demand of electric locomotives

Customer: Financial investor

To support an investment decision, SCI Verkehr compiled a market overview of demand and supply of electric locomotives in central Europe and used it to determine the future market demand for locomotives. For this, SCI Verkehr developed a forecast of the most important freight groups as well as an estimation of the future competitive development.

Asset Valuations Examples

Brief appraisal of Iberian diesel locomotives

Customer: International credit institution

For a current valuation of heavy diesel main-line locomotives, SCI Verkehr determined important input parameters such as replacement value, current leasing rates and expected off lease times. These parameters are used for the determination of a fair market value.

Valuation of overhead line construction machine

Customer: Financial institute

For a financial institution, SCI Verkehr evaluated the market-side performance of a catenary construction machine.

Vehicle evaluation: electric locomotives in Germany

Customer:

SCI Verkehr supported a private investor with the valuation of modern electric locomotives in the German market. The valuation was carried out using the replacement costs method.

Public Consulting Examples

North Rhine-Westphalia Railway Initiative

Customer: North Rhine-Westphalia Ministry of Transport, Energy and Regional Planning

Conception and organization of the North Rhine-Westphalia Railway Initiative between 2003 and 2005. In the second project phase starting in 2004, a founded analysis of qualification requirements of the rail transport economy is being conducted. The recruitment of young experts is also being encouraged, and a specialized science conference in North Rhine-Westphalia will be prepared and supported.

Benchmark draft valuation in European regional rail transport tenders

Customer: Public transport authority

On behalf of a public transport authority, SCI Verkehr benchmarked different draft valuations in European regional rail transport tenders. For this purpose, SCI Verkehr analysed tender documents and conducted expert talks with authorities and transport companies. In addition to analysing methodological approaches to valuation of concepts during the tendering process, SCI Verkehr also investigated how promised services during the contract period can be monitored.

Profitability Analyses Examples

Profitability audit e-bus procurement

Customer: Transport authority

SCI Verkehr evaluated the economic feasibility of the selected bids for a transport authority in the context of a procurement of new urban transport vehicles. To this purpose, SCI Verkehr evaluated the tender documents and carried out a price benchmark to determine standard market prices for e-buses and their charging infrastructure.

Strategic approaches for the after-market business in components

Customer:

SCI Verkehr analysed various KPIs for the maintenance and repair of vehicles and the overhaul and reconditioning of components for a supplier. For individual components and markets, a more in-depth analysis of the profitability of the segment was carried out, to derive strategic approaches for the design of the business field in Europe.

Benchmark for maintenance of freight wagons

Customer:

On behalf of an investor, SCI Verkehr prepared a comprehensive market analysis for the maintenance of freight wagons. This included a review of the basic principles of maintenance, an analysis of the main trends and drivers in the market, an explanation of new technological developments and an overview of maintenance companies and their locations. A focus of the analyses was also the benchmarking of prices of maintenance periods for different wagon types and components, as well as their development.

Process optimisations Examples

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.

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.

Supporting a work group on changes to the production and logistics infrastructure

Customer: Global player in the food industry

Changes in the client?s product and packaging mix led to an open discussion about the site structure in both production and logistics. Not only the future scale and location of the sites were up for discussion, but also the issue of the function of individual areas of production and logistics. SCI Verkehr hosted the dialogue between the employees and employer on these matters and incorporated its experience in supporting site changes into the discussion process.