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 development for component after sales

Customer: Component manufacturer

On behalf of a component manufacturer, SCI Verkehr is developing a strategic roadmap for the development of the after-sales business. Based on an upstream market analysis of selected European rail vehicle markets, submarkets are prioritised and development scenarios with external and internal growth potentials are elaborated. Recommendations are derived for the step-by-step implementation of the strategy.

Medium-sized chemical logistics specialist

Customer: Medium-sized chemical logistics specialist

A leading chemical logistics company which maintains its own truck fleet in addition to using external capacities is looking to finalise the integration of said fleet. External acquisitions had led to a rapid expansion in fleet size and since the fleet also serves as the service department for the business units of the company, various interfaces have developed. SCI Verkehr was tasked with changing the organisational structures of the fleet and re-defining the interfaces. In addition, the next organisational model had to be scalable and usable for other acquisitions.

Portfolio assessment of a rail freight transport company

Customer: Rail freight transport company

On behalf of a private railway undertaking, SCI Verkehr assesses a portfolio for the German rail freight market. Focus is put on volume estimations of the customer’s business fields as well as the development of market and competitive environment. Furthermore, SCI Verkehr provides a detailed analyses of selected corridors and branches.

Market Analyses Examples

Analysis automotive transport market in Europe

Customer: Rolling stock investor

On behalf of a rolling stock investor, SCI Verkehr analysed the automotive transport market in Continental Europe. This included historic data of the transport performance in the automotive segment as well as a forecast up to 2030. In addition, the freight wagon fleet for car transport was analysed focussing on UIC wagon types and ownership structure. Relevant wagon types were also presented.

Market analysis EMU for short-term deployment

Customer: Leasing company

SCI Verkehr was commissioned by a leading leasing company to conduct a market analysis of electric multiple units (EMU) in the German regional passenger transport (SPNV). In addition to a general analysis of the SPNV market, a particular focus was on identifying the short- and medium-term deployment potential of EMUs. For this purpose, operators and public transport authorities were also interviewed.

Study of the Spanish and Portuguese freight wagon market

Customer: Leasing company

On behalf of a leasing company, SCI Verkehr analysed and evaluated the market regions of Spain and Portugal with regard to the market players, the infrastructural conditions and freight wagon stocks. We provided a forecast of the expected market development and estimated and evaluated market entry possibilities.

Asset Valuations Examples

Asset valuation modern multi-system locomotives

Customer: Leasing company

On behalf of a leasing company, SCI Verkehr determines the current and expected future market value for modern multi-system locomotives. SCI Verkehr conducts an extensive analysis of the locomotives and their supply and demand and also evaluates the service of such locomotives in various European countries.

Asset valuation of multi-system locomotives

Customer: Leasing company

On behalf of a leasing company, SCI Verkehr assesses new multi-system locomotives for European cross-border traffic via the alps by means of the cost-based DRC analysis.

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.

Public Consulting Examples

Situational report "Inland waterway crafts in Poland 2002"

Customer: Consulting company

The situation for inland waterway crafts in Poland was researched and analysed for the BMVBW, which was examining the situation of inland waterway crafts in selected European countries. The report describes the waterway network, craft fleets, relevant inland waterway craft companies and transport services in Poland. The profitability of inland waterway crafts is generally represented on the basis of specific individual cases.

LogistikCluster NRW

Customer: LOG-IT Club e.V.

In autumn 2015, LogistikCluster NRW entered a new phase. The cluster's activities will focus even more intensively on the topics of growth, innovation and digitalisation. SCI Verkehr organises all technical and organisational activities for the LOG-IT Club e.V. in close cooperation with the Association of the Transport Industry and Logistics.

Profitability Analyses Examples

Technical/economical assessment of new development and upgrading of a testing centre

Customer: Public sector

On behalf of national and regional authorities, SCI Verkehr examined the new development and upgrading of a testing centre for rolling stock and infrastructure components in an EU country. This primarily involved the analysis of future test requirements and test potential as well as transferring this information into a technical/economical analysis to identify the optimum upgrade level for the current volume of funding.

Evaluation of vehicle options to support a local transport tender

Customer: Railway transport company

On behalf of a railway transport company, SCI Verkehr compiled an independent assessment of the advantages and disadvantages of various vehicle options in connection with a local transport tender. The realistic consideration of the potential operation of new and/or second-hand vehicles played an important role in this evaluation.

Process optimisations Examples

Optimisation potentials in rail vehicle maintenance

Customer: Private sector

SCI Verkehr is considering possible optimisation potentials in rail vehicle maintenance on behalf of a railway transport company. The focus of the project is on improving the employment of human resources. This is to be achieved by, among other things, increasing the vertical range of manufacturing, "make or buy" decisions and extending the existing range of activities of the staff. In addition, the expansion of the company?s activities is also analysed, for example, through the implementation of a vehicle leasing or rental business and its effects on employment.

Compilation of a bid for short-distance passenger transport in northern Germany

Customer: Railway transport company

A railway transport company is submitting a bid for a transport tender in northern Germany with the aim of making an attractive, innovative and cost-efficient offer for railway transport. The main contents include conception and technical support, editorial support as well as operative and organisational support.