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

Economic analysis of a rail freight company

Customer: Private rail freight company 

On behalf of a transport company, SCI Verkehr carried out an analysis of measures to improve the profitability of their business areas. For this purpose, the measures and the general company's positioning in the German rail freight market were examined.

Strategy workshop: Railway and logistics infrastructure

Customer:

On behalf of a large supplier, SCI Verkehr analysed the market potential in the field of railway and logistics infrastructure. Through a strategy workshop, starting points for developing new business areas were discussed together with the customer.

Market Analyses Examples

SPNV Market Analysis

Customer: Vehicle Manufacturer

A vehicle manufacturer?s works council requested that SCI Verkehr analyse current framework changes in the SPNV services market. The importance of these changes for the automobile market was predicted and a prognosis for market volume perspectives was made. SCI Verkehr will compile recommendations for the strategic development of the automotive market.

Current rolling stock projects in Europe and the CIS

Customer: Supplier

On behalf of a supplier, SCI Verkehr is compiling an overview of current rail vehicle projects and details of the technical parameters of the projects. In particular, this involves the dimensions and interior design of the vehicles.

Analysis of future vehicle requirements until 2032

Customer: Supplier Group

For the strategic business field planning of a railway technology supplier, SCI Verkehr analysed the future vehicle requirements up to the year 2032 in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Differentiation was made according to different vehicle segments as well as the type of drive - the latter is particularly relevant as some routes currently operated with diesel vehicles will be converted to alternative drives (fuel cell or battery) or hybrid drives (BEMU, bi-mode, etc.) in the future.

Asset Valuations Examples

Asset value analysis of an insolvent railway transport company

Customer: Financial services company

Analysis of the asset values of an insolvent railway transport company by evaluating sales opportunities for used locomotives and wagons in Germany and abroad as well as their technical stable value for estimating the market value in the event of reuse.

Validation of internal valuation assumptions for rolling stock

Customer: Leasing company

In the context of a cross-border, in-house transaction of rolling stock of a European leasing company, SCI Verkehr validates assumptions for an internal assessment system based on the income based DCF method (Discounted Cash Flow). Fundamental assumptions of the valuation model are checked for plausibility and are briefly assessed with regards to content. Rolling stock of the considered fleet is operated in Continental Europe and the UK.

Value appraisal for Interregio trains

Customer: Private railway company

On behalf of a private operator, SCI Verkehr compiled a value appraisal for Interregio trains which are to be operated in open-access transport services. The focus was on the evaluation of possible secondary markets for the vehicles.

Public Consulting Examples

International prospects in the German railway industry

Customer: Hans Boeckler Foundation

Within the scope of the research project of the Hans Boeckler Foundation, SCI Verkehr GmbH is analysing the impact of internationalisation on the prospects of the medium-sized railway industry in Germany. The focus is set on Eastern Europe. Using three case studies, potential changes in value creation structures will be presented and innovation requirements from the point view of the supply industry will be analysed and assessed. The report is going to be presented in the scope of a congress towards the end of 2007.

Profitability Analyses Examples

Profitability audit LRV 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 light rail vehicles (LRV). To this end, SCI Verkehr evaluated the tender documents and carried out a price benchmark to determine market prices for LRV.

Maintenance costs passenger coaches

Customer: Leasing company

SCI Verkehr has determined maintenance costs for passenger coaches as input for a business plan for a young leasing company. For this purpose, the life cycle costs for different wagon types and operating scenarios were calculated.

Price analysis of locomotives on the basis of indexing

Customer: Lessor

SCI Verkehr has analyzed the development of locomotive prices from order to delivery. In particular, existing contractual provisions on the indexation of purchase prices were taken into account.

Process optimisations Examples

Supporting a terminal operator in its appeal against the rejection of an application for funding

Customer: Terminal operator

An application for funding by a midsized intermodal terminal operator was rejected by the authorisation authority responsible. SCI Verkehr advised the client on all important aspects of the upcoming appeal proceedings and prepared the reasoning for the appeal. Furthermore, in order to develop a strategy with optimum chances of success, SCI Verkehr gathered additional information on the chances of success of the proceedings and on the optimum course of action by means of background discussions in political circles.

Bid management maintenance services

Customer: International maintenance provider for rolling stock

SCI Verkehr supported an international maintenance provider for rolling stock and components with regards to bid management for services in the external market. This included conceptual, economic and editorial assistance in the context of tender preparation as well as operational and organisational support in the bid process.

Process optimisation at a logistics site

Customer: Global player in the food industry

A central production and logistics site of our client showed ongoing logistical deficits: long waiting and processing times for lorries and out-of stock situations affected the performance of the site. At the same time, the client intended to integrate a smaller site from the local area, in order to raise the performance of the site concerned. SCI Verkehr was commissioned by the company management to analyse the main hurdles for a better performance of the site, present ways for improvement and, in cooperation with the company, implement the required measures. The main aim was to accelerate processing times. For this purpose it was necessary to remodel the logistical processes, together with staff on site. As part of an "operational excellence process", the consultancy and support from SCI Verkehr largely aimed towards activating employee expertise at the site. In this way, the upcoming changes in staffing were communicated and established, enabling sustainable optimisation of processes.