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

Detailed potential analysis of the maintenance market

Customer: International rolling stock maintenance provider

On behalf of a globally active rolling stock maintenance provider, SCI Verkehr analyses and assesses the market for maintenance services of all vehicle segments. Based on this, potentials for the provider are deduced. Assessment of potentials forms the basis for the future focus of the maintenance business.

Consultancy support for an acquisition in the rolling stock leasing segment

Customer: Asian conglomerate

SCI Verkehr supported an Asian conglomerate in the acquisition of a suitable target in the European leasing business. For this purpose, SCI Verkehr analysed the development of the leasing and rail transport markets in Eastern and Western Europe, examined and evaluated selected companies with regard to their assets as well as market and competitive positioning and forecast the future business development to be expected for the individual targets. SCI Verkehr supported the company in the preparatory measures for a due diligence as well as in the due diligence itself.

VDD in the intermodal transport segment

Customer: Railway undertaking company

SCI Verkehr has supported a rail undertaking in the intermodal transport segment at a VDD process. SCI Verkehr has prepared documents for the data room regarding market definition, size and development, including forecast and drivers of the market. Thereby it considered also regulations, innovations and competition. SCI Verkehr has analysed the business model of the client and prepared basic information such as KPI that were relevant for the process.

Market Analyses Examples

Market analysis workshop equipment

Customer: International supplier for railway equipment

On behalf of an international supplier for railway equipment, SCI Verkehr analyses the market for workshop equipment in Europe. For this reason, the market volume of new equipment and spare parts is determined. The SCI database comprising information on all workshop locations constitutes the basis of analysis, which can be used by the customer to develop their expansion strategy.

Updated competitor analysis

Customer: Manufacturer of rolling stock components

SCI Verkehr prepared a competitor analysis for a manufacturer of rail vehicle components. For this purpose, selected KPIs, market positioning and strategic rationales of the companies were analysed.

Rolling stock market analysis Turkey

Customer: Asian Group

On behalf of a client, SCI Verkehr compiled information on the rolling stock market in Turkey: In addition to fleet size and continuing procurements, the estimation of the future market development was of importance.

Asset Valuations Examples

Determining fair value of diesel multiple units

Customer: Railway transport company

In the context of a railway transport company’s refinancing, SCI Verkehr determines the current market value of used diesel multiple units. For this purpose, SCI Verkehr particularly analyses the future secondary market for diesel-powered regional railcars based on its regional and commuter rail transport and rolling stock databases.

Assessment of a rail car portfolio

Customer: Leasing company

On behalf of an investor, already active in rail vehicle leasing, SCI Verkehr carried out a regular analysis of the expected leasing income of the entire vehicle portfolio. Depending on the fleet structure and the expected market demand, leasing income and downtimes of the vehicles were evaluated, which served as the basis for evaluating earnings opportunities and preparing a business plan.

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

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

The mid-sized structured railway engineering supplier industry in Germany

Customer: Germany Federal Ministry for Economics and Technology

Requirements for the maintenance and improvement of the mid-sized railway supplier industry?s competitive ability in Germany are being studied. The investigation is taking place in the context of a worldwide concentration process of railway engineering system providers. It includes both an extensive empirical study of the mid-sized rail industry, benchmarking with reference industries and concrete action recommendations for a political-economic structural transformation of railway engineering.

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

Assessment of maintenance capacities in North Rhine-Westphalia

Customer: Medium-sized transport company and vehicle maintenance provider

A medium-sized transport company is looking to assess developments in the short-distance passenger transport market and their consequences for maintenance in North Rhine-Westphalia. The following targets are of paramount importance: 1) analysis and assessment of basic conditions of the short-distance passenger transport market; 2) processing market developments in the short-distance passenger transport market; 3) deduction of demand potential for maintenance work. With the available survey, SCI Verkehr GmbH is compiling the basis for these assessments in June 2006.

Cash flow model for a leasing company

Customer: Financial institution

SCI Verkehr developed a cash flow model for a financial institution for a European leasing company. The model calculates the companys expected profits until 2030 under market-realistic assumptions. It also calculates ratios such as loan-to-value and debt service coverage ratio based on a valuation of the fleet.

Market development in German commuter rail sector

Customer: International consulting firm

On behalf of an international consulting firm, SCI Verkehr analysed the development of tenders for commuter rail services in Germany. In addition to an analysis of all known and planned tenders by the contracting authorities, SCI Verkehr also performed an allocation of the commuter rail vehicles currently in operation. An overview of the contract standards of all German contracting authorities was complemented by a differentiation by gross contracts and net contracts.

Process optimisations Examples

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.

Future workshop logistics

Customer: Global player in the food industry

The works committee and logistics management of a global player in the food industry intended to initiate an open dialogue about the future optimisation of logistical processes with external support. By conducting talks with both sides, SCI Verkehr prepared the dialogue, hosted the meetings of a joint working group and provided specialist input with the aim of developing a common perception of the logistical future of the company.

Support tram tender

Customer: Rolling stock manufacturer

SCI Verkehr supported an Asian manufacturer of rolling stock in a European tram tender process. This included an analysis of the tender documents and preparatory background talks as well as the recommendation of a suitable product and project strategy.