Optimize to outperform

When others saw only constraints in Germany's coal phase-out mandate, one energy provider recognized an opportunity to fundamentally reimagine its business. By partnering with us, the company transformed regulatory pressure into a catalyst for strategic growth. Rather than waiting for disruption to dictate their fate, they took decisive action – and together we developed a €10+ billion sustainable business portfolio that positioned them ahead of market evolution. Our collaborative approach went beyond traditional cost optimization, creating a future-focused organizational structure that unlocks new value streams. Through transparent stakeholder engagement and strategic co-determination processes, we established a framework for sustainable performance that balances immediate optimization with long-term competitive advantage. This is what happens when organizations optimize to outperform.

A leading shipyard facing rising costs due to inflation, labor expenses, and geopolitical pressures engaged Roland Berger to identify procurement savings. Despite a booming industry, many shipyards, including this client, have struggled with financial challenges exacerbated by high pre-financing requirements, postponed deliveries, and increased supplier prices. The project focused on generating spend transparency through cost-breakdown analysis, should-cost modeling, and strategic supplier negotiations. This approach also included leveraging volume bundling, competitive bidding, and technical optimization to refine savings across both direct and indirect material streams. The effort resulted in over 1,000 implemented measures, significantly reducing procurement costs and delivering a comprehensive implementation plan to sustain future savings, despite the ongoing pressures of limited production slots, single sourcing, and complex client specifications. The savings potential implemented consistently ranged from 5% to 30% depending on the category securing the shipyard’s EBIT performance.

When a specialized industrial machinery manufacturer faced eroding market share and aggressive competition, they chose proactive transformation over passive waiting. Declining global demand had pushed the company toward a projected €40 million loss, requiring bold decisions well before any anticipated 2026 market upturn. Roland Berger conducted a rapid yet thorough assessment that uncovered opportunities within both external market dynamics and internal operations. Our approach delivered tailored strategies for each business unit based on quantified scenario modeling and realistic implementation pathways. For one division, this meant focused redimensioning to enhance core strengths; for another, a complete strategic repositioning to capture emerging value. By embracing decisive optimization now, leadership secured immediate stability while building sustainable competitive advantage for the future. This client exemplifies the performance excellence mindset: organizations that make tough strategic choices today position themselves to lead their markets tomorrow.