DB Cargo modernizes network, integrates business units

Advanced transportation systems require the most advanced IT solutions. When DB Cargo, the largest railroad freight carrier in Europe, modernized its rail cargo system, the company turned to DXC Technology for expertise, technical support and one of the most advanced rail management system solutions available today.

Based in Frankfurt, Germany, DB Cargo is a business unit of DB Schenker, which operates in 15 countries throughout Europe and is supported by 31,000 employees. DB Cargo’s inventory includes 3,000 locomotives and 92,000 freight cars, and the company’s trains make close to 5,000 freight journeys every day.

Advanced solution for massive workload

The logistical and IT systems needed to handle such a massive workload need to be state of the art. DXC is one of the leading providers of advanced transportation system solutions, so when DB Cargo needed to modernize its systems, the company relied on DXC’s deep industry experience and technical knowledge.

The primary task for DB Cargo was to develop a cutting-edge network that could successfully integrate its various European entities. This included the development and deployment of a new IT master plan. “We have a lot of different applications in our entities, and some entities don’t have any support for their business,” says Thomas Streicher, head of the European production transformation at DB Cargo.

The company decided to implement a fulfillment production system among its entities, which meant the system needed to support a wide diversity of functions and processes, such as train construction, siding processes and border-crossing functions. The system also needed to be delivered end-to-end across the entire transport chain.

Leading-edge software

DXC’s Rail Cargo Management Solution (RCMS) is a flexible railway-specific software application built on industry standards to manage a wide range of applications and processes. RCMS is favored by European rail operators for its flexibility, ease of integration and scalability.

RCMS applications include management, train formation and disposition, and rail logistics services for national and international freight train operations. The comprehensive interfacing capability of RCMS facilitates data exchange with the IT systems of business partners, consignors, telematics systems and process control systems, as well as with other standard business software.

DB Cargo needed to perform the upgrade while keeping its existing operations running. “You can imagine it’s not easy to use a new system, to change processes and workflows while production is ongoing,” Streicher says. Workflows were not interrupted during the modernization, allowing the trains to keep running on time.

Improved processes and customer services

RCMS provides DB Cargo with a wealth of benefits. First, processes have been improved, and its customers are enjoying higher quality freight offerings. The system excels at order management for rail logistics, scheduling and monitoring train operations and shunting activities, as well as accounting and reporting functions.

All in all, DB Cargo’s move to a new IT solution has been a success. “We’ve come a long way,” Streicher says. “The system ensures us an important contribution for our European processes and for the quality of our transports for our customers as well.”

For Streicher, DXC’s experience in the transportation and logistics industry was a key factor in the success. “DXC is a very experienced partner in this area, not only in the IT sector, also in business knowledge. I’m looking forward to continuing our successful business collaboration,” he says.

Contact us to learn more about how DXC can help you transform your rail cargo environment.