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

Development of strategic building blocks for rolling stock manufacturer

Customer: Rolling stock manufacturer

SCI Verkehr prepared a portfolio assessment of the main fields of business for an internationally active rolling stock manufacturer. In doing so, we analysed the current situation and future developments in these fields of business, as well as the key megatrends that overlie and could determine the market development. Against this background, SCI Verkehr developed strategic building blocks for successful market positioning.

Market potentials for diesel locomotive maintenance

Customer: International rolling stock maintenance service provider

On behalf of a globally active rolling stock maintenance service provider, SCI Verkehr analyses market potentials in the diesel locomotive segment. For this purpose, SCI Verkehr assesses operating fleets and the competitive situation in Europe.

Bid Management in Regional Passenger Rail Transport

Customer: International company for rolling stock maintenance

SCI Verkehr supported an international company for rolling stock maintenance with regards to bid-management of a tender for regional passenger rail transport. SCI Verkehr´ s tasks included conceptual, economic and editorial support in terms of tender preparation, as well as operational and organisational support within the bid process. Designing the interface between maintenance companies, transport companies, and responsible bodies presented a challenge.

Market Analyses Examples

Overview of global transport market development

Customer: Supplier

On behalf of a supplier of railway components, SCI Verkehr analysed the development of the global transport markets differentiated by regions and segments. In particular, the influence of the COVID 19 pandemic and the forecast of the market development until 2025 were the focus of the analysis of rail freight transport, passenger transport and urban transport.

Market analysis of the European railway market

Customer: International financing company

In order to develop a strategy process for an international financing company, SCI Verkehr analysed the present and future of the European railway market. This extensive study focused on identifying demand potential for vehicle financing and rolling stock leasing in rail passenger and freight transport in the leading European markets. The report additionally includes up-to-date market information about transport markets, important transport and leasing companies and the vehicle industry.

Brief analysis of the Indian railway market

Customer: German Railway Industry Association (VDB)

On behalf of the association, SCI Verkehr analysed the Indian railway market in preparation of a business trip. The analysis was focused on general market developments as well as on railway projects and manufacturers.

Asset Valuations Examples

Asset valuation of modernised electric locomotives

Customer:

On behalf of a leading European leasing company, SCI Verkehr assessed the current market value and expected future value development of modernised electric locomotives for the Eastern European market. SCI Verkehr cooperated with a technical consultant to review the relevant documents and approvals.

Updated valuation of rail vehicle fleet

Customer:

On behalf of an international leasing company for rail vehicles, SCI Verkehr determined the value of a large fleet of locomotives and passenger vehicles. The valuation took into account the cost-based DRC valuation approach and the income-based DCF approach. SCI Verkehr also prepared a comprehensive supply and demand analysis.

Evaluation of two freight wagons in the run-up to procurement

Customer: Freight car leasing company

SCI Verkehr evaluated two types of freight wagons on the basis of theoretical inputs as part of its support for a freight wagon leasing company in the procurement of freight wagons.

Public Consulting Examples

Development of an industrial main track

Customer:

A German municipality is in possession of extensive track facilities at a local industrial area (industrial main track). This infrastructure has not been used for freight services for many years. In the meantime, an investment backlog has arisen, and the track systems are currently not usable. In order to support a council decision on further action, SCI Verkehr is to examine the prospects of the industrial main track.

Preparation of bidding documents for tenders in Germany

Customer: Local rail transport operator

SCI Verkehr supported a private railway company in the strategic and operational preparation of a bid for transport services in Germany. The aim is to submit an attractive, innovative and cost-efficient offer for rail services, on the basis of which the client will be successful in the competition for the transport service contract. SCI Verkehr performed the conceptual and technical planning, the editorial preparation and operational and organisational support.

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.

Support CDD to an Intermodal Terminal

Customer: strategic investor

SCI Verkehr supported a strategic investor in its commercial due diligence on an intermodal terminal (rail-road) in Germany. This involved accompanying the development of the investor's valuation approach, assessing operational benefits/opportunities and analysing development potential.

Process optimisations Examples

Improvement of logistics processes at a site in Baden-Württemberg

Customer: Global player in the beverage industry

A global player in the beverage industry is looking to optimise its logistics processes at a combined production and logistics site in Baden-Württemberg. SCI Verkehr was commissioned to re-work storage processes and logistics interfaces with other divisions such as production, distribution and sales in a collaboration with the management, works committee and employees, and to document the results afterwards.

Optimization of the Land-Sea Interface as part of a maritime network group

Customer:

Investigation on behalf of the SH Technology Foundation

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.