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

Analysis of the rail vehicle market in Austria and Portugal

Customer:

For an Asian rail vehicle manufacturer, SCI Verkehr analysed the market potential and entry barriers for new rail vehicles in Austria and Portugal.

Third-party services in public rail transport

Customer: European railway transport company

On behalf of a European railway transport company, SCI Verkehr defined and assessed potential services for third parties in regional rail transport. The objective was to develop new business fields and to prepare the market entry. For this purpose, SCI Verkehr identified services along the entire value chain in regional rail passenger transport and assessed their marketability. In the context of the project, initial talks with potential customers (transport companies, authorities, providers) have already been held.

Market Analyses Examples

Market chances in rail vehicle construction

Customer: Manufacturer from the rail vehicle industry

Assessment of the prospective market chances in European and German rail vehicle construction. Assessment of the general conditions and development drivers in the transport markets. Analysis of the current market volumes as well as prospects for development up to the year 2011. Assessment of potentials in the rail vehicle maintenance business. Preparing recommendations for action regarding the further utilisation and development of an individual site for a world market leader for rail vehicles.

Due diligence support

Customer: International component manufacturer

A worldwide active company active in the rail industry has evaluated opportunities and risks regarding the acquisition of a company in a niche market. The company is active in the infrastructure segment. SCI Verkehr has supported the company in the commercial due diligence with a market and competition analysis.

Market potential analysis for innovative infrastructure components

Customer: Industrial group

On behalf of an industrial group, SCI Verkehr analysed the market potential for innovative infrastructure components. The focus was placed on a market and competition analysis in Germany, France and Italy.

Asset Valuations Examples

Valuation of a freight wagon portfolio in Eastern Europe

Customer: Freight wagon lessor

For a leasing company, SCI Verkehr GmbH evaluated a freight wagon portfolio and provided an analysis of the freight market and freight wagon fleet development in Eastern Europe.

Vehicle assessment for rail freight fleet

Customer: International bank

On behalf of a refinancing bank, SCI Verkehr determined the current value of a rail freight fleet. The value assessment of these vehicles, which are operated on the Iberian peninsula, was based on the cost-based DRC assessment approach, and considered the results of a supply and demand analysis for locomotives and freight wagons.

Assessment of business plan and portfolio of a leasing company

Customer: International bank consortium

On behalf of an international bank consortium, SCI Verkehr critically analysed the business plan of a leasing company. For this purpose we performed an extensive asset value analysis of the diesel locomotives in the portfolio. As well as a comprehensive analysis of the future demand, we also conducted an assessment of launching newly developed diesel locomotives.

Public Consulting Examples

Logistics Center Cologne/Bonn - location profile and competitive position

Customer: Society for the promotion of economic development North-Rhine/Westphalia ltd. (GfW)

The goal of the consulting activities is the development of a location profile for the logistics region of Cologne/Bonn. The investigation focuses on the possible unique selling points of the planned end-of-runway logistics park in Troisdorf Spich, and its positive effect on the entire region?s economy. The competitive position of such a logistics park and the potential target company will be evaluated with a small strategic analysis of selected competing regions

Economic survey logistics Hamburg

Customer: Logistics initiative Hamburg

Since 2009, SCI Verkehr GmbH has carried out an annual survey of the members of the logistics initiative group "Logistikinitiative Hamburg" regarding the economic development of the logistics market in Hamburg. The data collected is then compared with the SCI/Logistics Barometer and therefore put in a national context. In 2015, members were surveyed again. The results were presented as part of the initiative members'€™ meeting.

Competence-net Logistics.NRW

Customer: LOG-IT Club e.V.

In April 2018, the competence-net Logistics.NRW was launched as innovation and partner network of the state of NRW. Activities of the network are directed at the subject areas of innovation and digitalisation in particular. On behalf of LOG-IT Club eV., SCI Verkehr, in close cooperation with the alliance of transport economics and logistics, organises all specialist and organisational activities related to continuous networking.

Profitability Analyses Examples

Due diligence on an investment in alternative propulsion systems for rail vehicles

Customer: Strategic investor

SCI Verkehr supports an investor in the preparation of a CDD on an investment opportunity in an alternative propulsion technology for rail vehicles. Specific target markets are analysed, procurement criteria of the end customers are evaluated and the business plan is assessed and adapted together with the client.

Environmental criteria in short-distance passenger rail transport competition

Customer: Allianz pro Schiene

On behalf of Allianz pro Schiene, SCI Verkehr is analysing the importance of ecological-related decision-making criteria within the German competition market for short-distance passenger rail transport. For this, environmental criteria are going to be analysed with regard to completed awards of short-distance passenger rail transport services and their future importance.

Process optimisations Examples

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

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.

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.