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

Market study freight wagon leasing for a Commercial Due Diligence

Customer: Infrastructure fund

On behalf of a leading investment company, SCI Verkehr compiled a market study of freight wagon leasing in Europe. This study is used for a investment decision on a pre-due diligence process by the client. Besides a market overview, current and future demand and supply of freight wagons are presented. Market competition and development of specific indicators for leasing companies, such as wagon prices, cost structure and utilization rates, are also analysed.

Market and KPI monitoring of a freight wagon lessor

Customer:

SCI Verkehr supported a financial investor in setting up a market and company monitoring system for a European freight wagon leasing company. This involved both methodological implementation and statistical inputs.

Market screening "railway technology" to identify new business fields

Customer: Railway industry supplier

On behalf of a systems supplier, SCI Verkehr carried out a market screening of the integrated system "railway technology? to evaluate new business fields for the company. The business fields to be identified were to be evaluated both by their market development and by their synergies with existing business fields. As a result, a list was derived of possible M&A targets that exist in the business fields identified and fit in with the company or its path for expansion.

Market Analyses Examples

Analysis of German maintenance market

Customer: Vehicle manufacturer

Commissioned by a globally active industrial manufacturer, the maintenance capacity of the short-distance passenger transport market in Germany is analysed and assessed. In addition, existing and prospective market access conditions are evaluated. Recommendations for a successful strategic positioning as well as different courses of action for the company are also being compiled.

Analysis of the procurement strategies of worldwide rail vehicle operators

Customer: International consulting firm

On behalf of an Asian consulting company, SCI Verkehr analysed the procurement strategies of the most important operators and owners of electrically powered rail vehicles worldwide. For this purpose, SCI Verkehr analysed procurement in the last 25 years in these vehicle segments: locomotives, high-speed trains, multiple units, LRV and metro. The results were examined in more detail via an analysis of important current and future procurement projects by selected operators and the identification of procurement strategies.

Strategical analysis of the freight wagon market in Ukraine

Customer: Leasing company

In order to prepare the decision of an investor, SCI Verkehr analysed advantages as well as disadvantages of two main opportunities in the Ukrainian market: Selling a freight wagon fleet or, on the other hand, continuing operations of a leasing company. For this analysis, SCI Verkehr applies a tried and tested methodology for calculating market value of the fleet as well as a forecast for the perspective development of rail freight transport in Ukraine.

Asset Valuations Examples

Assessment of pocket wagons in Europe

Customer: International freight wagon lessor

On behalf of a freight wagon lessor, SCI Verkehr carries out vehicle assessment by means of the income-based DCF method in the context of an internal asset transfer of used pocket wagons in Europe. For this purpose, SCI Verkehr analyses leasing rates and the general supply and demand situation of comparable wagons.

Appraisal of freight car fleet

Customer: International investment company

On behalf of an international investment company, SCI Verkehr evaluated a large fleet of different types of freight wagons according to the replacement value after depreciation. A car-specific depreciation according to physical, functional and commercial obsolescence was calculated.

Short appraisal of modern diesel multiple units

Customer: Credit institution

SCI Verkehr created a short appraisal of modern diesel multiple units for use in the German regional rail transport. This was based on an asset description and a determination of the market value.

Public Consulting Examples

Management LOG-IT CLUB

Customer: LOG-IT Club e.V.

Since the foundation of the LOG-IT Club e.V. in November 2002, SCI Verkehr has conducted the business of the association. This includes the support of the association committees, account management, budgetary control and acceptance of new members.

Assessment of economic consequences of reducing regionalisation funds

Customer: Transport Association Rhine-Ruhr

The reduction of regionalisation funds for short-distance passenger transport will have far-reaching effects on the range of transport on offer. The consequences for companies and employees will be of particular significance. SCI Verkehr has assessed the economic effects of the reduction of regionalisation funds in the form of a brief expert opinion.

OSIRIS - Optimized System for an Innovative Rail Integrated Seaport connection

Customer: EU-Kommission GD Vll - Transport

An analysis of the operation of intermodal transport by rail shows that the integration and improvement of existing concepts and the set up of new concepts are required. The main objective of the OSIRIS concept is to improve the price- quality ratio of intermodal transport. The target of OSIRIS is to create new and competitive offers by integrating and connecting new into existing technical components and to innovate the operational and organisational issues. Operational experiences of the OSIRIS concept should be gained throughout selected pilot demonstrator in a future realisation phase.

Profitability Analyses Examples

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.

Structural measures at a food company

Customer: food / logistics company

SCI Verkehr assists the works council of a large food / logistics company in the assessment and analysis of structural measures by the company and supports the development of alternative (logistics) concepts.

Profitability audit vehicle 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 end, SCI Verkehr evaluated the tender documents and carried out a price benchmark to determine market prices for metro vehicles and e-buses.

Process optimisations Examples

Customs procedures for the container traffic Denmark ? German North Sea harbours ? Overseas newly to be installed

Customer: Logistic company

The European liberalisation of railway traffic allows the utilisation of the infrastructure by private railway transportation enterprises also across national borders. However, as opposed to the state railways, the regional railways cannot make use of the simplified common shipping procedure but are subject to the regulating procedures of the common / community shipping procedure. With this report a recommendation was developed for procedural management under the existing conditions.

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.