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

Strategic workshop in preparation for market entry in Western Europe

Customer:

On behalf of an Asian rolling stock manufacturer, SCI Verkehr carries out a strategic workshop in order to carefully prepare for a strategic market entry in Western Europe, notably in Germany and Great Britain.

Current developments in the locomotive market

Customer: Leasing company

On behalf of a client, SCI Verkehr prepared a strategy workshop that analyses current developments in the locomotive market and supported the client's investment decisions. Different locomotive segments were considered as well as a differentiation between new and maintenance business. This also included the analysis of existing production and workshop capacities.

Detailed analysis of European markets for rail vehicles

Customer:

On behalf of a European rail vehicle manufacturer, SCI Verkehr analysed the market development and forecasts for various vehicle types in all European countries. The analysis served to review and update the customer's strategic roadmap. A comparison was made with a previous study.

Market Analyses Examples

Annual assessment freight wagon fleet

Customer: European freight wagon lessor

SCI Verkehr carried out an annual assessment update for a European freight wagon fleet (intermodal wagons). It was assessed on the basis of the IVS 2020 standards.

Market and customer analysis of the European market for rail vehicles

Customer: Rail vehicle manufacturer

For a leading international rail vehicle manufacturer, SCI Verkehr analysed and forecast the current and future market volume for new rail vehicle procurement in Europe and selected other countries. A survey of private vehicle operators as well as important, planned procurement projects complemented the analysis.

Market investigation for signalling in secondary areas

Customer: Railway engineering industry

Secondary areas (yard tracks, small marshalling yards etc.) exhibit a multitude of business forms and processes, which require sufficiently flexible business organisation. An adapted decentralised control command and signalling in slim line architecture is often superior to a centralised system. Infrastructure operators are generally showing great interest in this innovative business/infrastructure approach. In order to establish it successfully in the market for control command and signalling, SCI Verkehr GmbH firstly conducted a survey on a European and national level of those parties responsible for the development and financial examination of investment projects in control command and signalling regarding the involvement of innovative approaches in their activities. Thereafter SCI Verkehr GmbH ascertained key data and information regarding planned construction and refurbishment projects of port and industrial railways as the primary operators of secondary areas. It then analysed this information with regard to success in commencing business operations. Finally, SCI Verkehr GmbH supported the client when making subsequent contact to selected operators for the purpose of collecting more detailed information.

Asset Valuations Examples

Determining secondary value of LRVs

Customer: Refinancing bank

On behalf of a refinancing bank, SCI Verkehr determines the current market value of LRVs in operation. Special focus is put on analysing and assessing possible scenarios of reuse, also beyond the current field of application.

Value analysis of a track laying machine

Customer: Financing company

On behalf of a leasing company, SCI Verkehr assessed the current value of a used track laying machine. The analysis took into consideration a vehicle benchmark of comparable new vehicles and an estimate of potential secondary markets in Germany and abroad.

Portfolio assessment for refinancing

Customer: Rolling stock lessor

In the context of a refinance, SCI Verkehr assesses the market value of a large European rolling stock portfolio. Assessment is conducted by means of the income-based DCF method and comprises detailed descriptions of the portfolio´s competitive position and of the supply and demand side.

Public Consulting Examples

LogistikCluster NRW

Customer: LOG-IT Club e.V.

In the fall of 2015, the LogistikCluster NRW entered a new phase. The activities of the cluster will be focusing more strongly on the areas of growth, innovation and digitisation. SCI Verkehr organizes all running technical and organisational activities for the LOG-IT Club e.V. in close cooperation with the Verband Verkehrswirtschaft und Logistik.

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

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.

Comparative line analysis for re-activating the Osthavelländische Eisenbahn (East Havel-Land Railways)

Customer: Stadt Hennigsdorf (City of Hennigsdorf)

Analysis of passenger load and potential for a tangential connection Berlin-Spandau-Hennigsdorf

Process optimisations Examples

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.

Project management reorganisation sales

Customer: International transport company

On behalf of an international transport company, SCI Verkehr took on the management of a project entailing reorganising the sales department. The project is aimed at developing a uniform sales organisation as well as professionalising the public image. SCI Verkehr supports the customer in organising the project and in terms of content-related sparring.

Supporting the reorganisation of the group strategy of a freight transport company

Customer: European rail freight operator

SCI Verkehr is supporting a leading European freight transport company in the reorganisation of its corporate strategy. In the process, all relevant internal and external factors for all forms of production in rail freight transport are examined and subjected to a strategic review. The aim is to redesign selected areas of the company in order to achieve greater economic efficiency and resilience.