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

Business plan review and evaluation freight wagon portfolio

Customer:

SCI Verkehr checked the plausibility of relevant assumptions of the business plan of a leasing company for a leading European infrastructure investor. Based on this, SCI Verkehr prepared an independent assessment of relevant parameters as well as a fleet valuation of the freight wagons contained in the portfolio.

Strategic repositioning of a leading European rail freight company

Customer: Internationally leading rail freight company

A leading company in the European rail freight market has executed an extensive project for strategic repositioning, reorganisation and process setup with the help of SCI Verkehr. SCI Verkehr provided support in the areas of project management as well as with specific projects. For this, market and competition expectations were reviewed and benchmarks for the positioning of production- and sales-related units were developed. SCI Verkehr prepared, monitored and evaluated the successful implementation.

Strategic approaches for the after-market business in components

Customer:

SCI Verkehr analysed various KPIs for the maintenance and repair of vehicles and the overhaul and reconditioning of components for a supplier. For individual components and markets, a more in-depth analysis of the profitability of the segment was carried out, to derive strategic approaches for the design of the business field in Europe.

Market Analyses Examples

Market potentials for infrastructure components

Customer: Global company

On behalf of a globally active company, SCI Verkehr examines market potentials for infrastructure components. In particular, innovative materials and processes are assessed with regards to their operation on railway track systems.

World market for wheelsets and their maintenance

Customer: International heavy rail manufacturer

SCI Verkehr surveyed the worldwide market for wheel sets and associated services in the freight sector. The main focus of the survey was set on the value added chain from manufacturer up to maintenance services.

Market analysis on interlocking technology

Customer: US company

On behalf of a US company, SCI Verkehr analysed the market for interlocking technology in Europe, North America and Asia. The market potential and the accessible market were determined for the years 2008?2013. The analysis was complemented by a presentation of the manufacturing landscapes and key products in the field of control command and signalling.

Asset Valuations Examples

Market prospects and competitive situation in locomotive leasing

Customer: International credit institute

In order to broaden its service portfolio, SCI Verkehr analysed the competitive situation and market prospects in the European market for operate leasing of locomotives on behalf of an international leasing company. To determine the market demand SCI Verkehr examined national and international transport flows in rail freight transport, differentiated by important types of freight suited for transportation by railway. On this basis, SCI Verkehr derived the current and future demand for locomotives differentiated by type of traction, power systems and national packages. Taking into consideration the competitive environment, SCI Verkehr determined an optimum fleet structure for a leasing pool.

Brief appraisal of EMUs and freight cars

Customer: Bank group

As the basis for financing, SCI Verkehr made a risk-based asset appraisal of different European freight wagon types and electric multiple units.

Short appraisal modern container cars

Customer: Leasing company

In the run-up to a financing of modern intermodal wagons, SCI Verkehr carried out a short appraisal with asset descriptions and a valuation of the demand and supply situation. The expected market values were determined based on a DRC method.

Public Consulting Examples

Situation and Perspectives of the Railway Industry in North-Rhine-Westphalia

Customer: Ministry of Economy, Technology and Transport of North-Rhine-Westphalia

Analysis of trends within the railway industry in the German state of North-Rhine-Westphalia, empirical inquiry of the extensive qualitative and quantitative data of companies of the railway sector in NRW, profile of strengths and weaknesses of the branch, options for action for the Ministry of Economy, Technology and Transport of North-Rhine-Westphalia with regard to industry, traffic and region.

Profitability Analyses Examples

Strategic advice to a logistics service provider on the development of rail products

Customer:  Logistics Group 

Together with partners, SCI Verkehr is supporting a globally active logistics group in the strategic reorientation of its transports towards more rail transport. The activities are taking place in the context of implementing the group's CO2 targets. In the process, the relevant transport markets are analysed and, as a result, options are examined, e.g. for the development of own capacities, partnerships or acquisitions.

Feasibility study ? Alternative drives for buses

Customer: Transport company in Germany

In a feasibility study, SCI Verkehr has assessed the advantages and disadvantages of existing bus concepts for alternative drives (hybrid vehicles, plug-in vehicles and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles) and the infrastructure required for this. Against the background of this assessment, SCI Verkehr has derived a detailed procurement proposal for buses with alternative drives on behalf of an international transport company.

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.

Process optimisations Examples

Restructuring of workshop flows

Customer: Global player in the food industry

When centralising three workshops into one new site, our client had not implemented an active change management strategy. The processes and areas of work taken over from the old locations led to a significant drop in output at the new site. First of all, SCI Verkehr analysed and documented the existing workflows in a task force including management and the works council. At the same time, the team from SCI Verkehr identified and initiated necessary changes and oversaw the implementation on site. The aim of the project was to introduce staff to the new conditions in order to establish the adapted working areas and processes for the long term.

Development of intermodal transport terminal

Customer: Engineering firm

A Dutch logistics group is interested in setting up a terminal for road/rail transfer. The terminal focuses on seaport hinterland traffic of North Sea ports. SCI Verkehr was tasked with testing the feasibility in cooperation with partners (with special regard to rail connectivity) and working out a grant application according to the intermodal transport guidelines