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

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.

Commercial due diligence freight wagon lessor

Customer: Financial investor

SCI Verkehr supports a financial investor by preparing a CDD in the domain of freight wagon leasing. In addition to the CDD report, customer questions on previous reports are responded to in the context of a Q&A process.

Implementation of new structure logistics

Customer: Global player in the beverage industry

A global player in the beverage industry planned to standardise the leading structures of its German logistics site to make them sustainable for the future. Following an implementation project in a total of four pilot areas in Germany, SCI Verkehr carried out the migration of three more sales areas into a new standardised structure. This was carried by a constant fine-tuning with the relevant management level and employee representatives.

Market Analyses Examples

Global rolling stock fleet data

Customer: Industrial company

On behalf of an industrial group, SCI Verkehr provides data on global rolling stock fleets to be integrated into the clients database, which is utilised with regard to the component aftermarket, in particular.

Market and competition analysis of selected country markets for rail vehicles

Customer:

SCI Verkehr analysed 24 selected country markets for rail vehicles for an international railway engineering company. The focus of the analysis was the forecast of the current and future market volume and the competitive landscape.

Competition analysis rail vehicle components

Customer: Asian component manufacturer

On behalf of an Asian manufacturer, SCI Verkehr analysed the competitive landscape in the worldwide market for rail vehicle door systems.

Asset Valuations Examples

Follow-up valuation of vehicle portfolio

Customer: Financing company

SCI Verkehr provided a vehicle financing company with input factors relevant for the annual evaluation of securities. The focus was on the market development in the worldwide rail freight transport and the worldwide fleets of locomotives and freight wagons.

Short checking of return policy and costing

Customer: Bank group

On behalf of a refinancing bank, SCI Verkehr analysed the return policy of regional rail vehicles and in a second step determined a basic scenario of costs to be expected if the vehicles are returned within the contract duration.

Valuation of a leasing company?s portfolio

Customer: International credit institute

As a consequence of the current financial and economic crisis, SCI Verkehr carried out a portfolio revaluation for a large leasing company for electric and diesel locomotives, multiple units and freight wagons. To do so, SCI Verkehr adapted an existing asset valuation to the current market situation and compiled a comprehensive accompanying market report. The results form the basis for the company?s future strategic direction.

Public Consulting Examples

New conception and continuation of the "Logistics State Initiative of North Rhine Westphalia"

Customer: Ministry of Economics and Labor of the State of NRW

Based on the work of the state's initiative in logistics during the first 3 years, the task now is to press ahead with the work started and provide new impulses in support of the logistics sector in North Rhine Westphalia

Schienengüterverkehrstag 2001 (Railway Freight Traffic Conference 2001)

Customer: Ministerium für Wohnungswesen, Städtebau und Verkehr des Landes Sachsen-Anhalt (Ministry for Housing, Town Planning, and Traffic of State Sachsen-Anhalt)

Because of the traffic problems on the road and the expected growth of traffic much hope, particularly in the field of freight traffic, is directed towards to the railways as a carrier for solving the transportation problems of the future. This was the background for the State of Sachsen-Anhalt to bring together, within the scope of a technical conference, decision makers in politics and science, consignors, and the transportation business, in order to develop initiatives for improving the efficiency and competitive capability of the railway freight traffic. SCI Verkehr has developed and implemented an agenda for this conference. It became possible to win high-ranking speakers from the economy, science, and politics. With more than 300 delegates the event was well received. Because of this success the State of Sachsen-Anhalt has decided to make the Railway Freight Traffic Conference a regular event. The Conference 2002 is scheduled for 5 and 6 September 2002.

Competency atlas for logistics in Baden-Württemberg

Customer: Baden-Württemberg Department of Trade and Industry

SCI Verkehr developed the contents of a competency atlas for the logistics sector in Baden-Württemberg. This competency atlas presents a compendium of the particular skills present in a logistics region. One particular feature of the Atlas is its depth and breadth, in other words the quantity and complexity of the information presented. Using the tool provided by the competency atlas for logistics in Baden-Württemberg on the basis of the strengths/weaknesses analysis for logistics, the Department of Trade and Industry has the opportunity to gain respect in the expert community on both a regional and national level.

Profitability Analyses Examples

Performance comparison of selected European railway companies

Customer: European railway company

As a result of new EU regulations, the European state railways have seen some very extensive reforms since the beginning of the 90s. The objectives of these reforms were to improve transport services and the quality of rail transport and to reduce the strain on public budgets. On behalf of a European state railway, SCI Verkehr analysed the track records and development of selected state railways with regard to these objectives. SCI Verkehr made the comparison drawing upon specific key figures, with the help of which we assessed the objectives listed.

Strategy development own fleet

Customer: Global player in the beverage industry

A global player in the beverage industry operates its own truck fleet in order to distribute its products in Germany. SCI Verkehr was commissioned to develop a strategy for the fleet´s further development, taking into account external influences (e.g. transport market) as well as internal structures. The process was closely coordinated with the customer and employee representatives and a joint implementation process was agreed upon.

Increase in profitability of an industrial and port railway

Customer: Schwerin Public Works

Analysis of existing and potential operations in regional passenger and cargo transport. Development and preparation of a business concept for an economically viable NE-Railway.

Process optimisations Examples

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.

Drafting and compilation of a bid for local transport service

Customer: International transport company

On behalf of an international transport company, SCI Verkehr has developed and compiled a bid for services in local rail passenger transport in southern Germany. In addition, SCI Verkehr was responsible for organisation and bid management.

Application for rail sidings subsidies

Customer: Medium-sized forwarding company

A medium-sized forwarding company is planning to extend its existing railways siding and to improve it by setting up a handling hall. In order to construct these facilities, the company will seek governmental subsidies from the sidings track support programme of the Federal Republic of Germany. SCI Verkehr was commissioned to take a leading part in supporting the company´s application.