Explanations for why they close 204 shops per territory they give with their announcement the ELTA.
Specifically, the ELTA in their relevant announcement about the stores that are closing state that: “The suspension of 204 ELTA stores with minimal commercial activity, which completes the rationalization of the ELTA network, ensures the overall viability of the Hellenic Post Office, which invests in new services, technological upgrading and better conditions for employees and customers. Today, in-store transactions contribute less than 10% of revenue, but consume more than 50% of expenses, squandering potential for investment, development and the result from the other healthy growing activities, such as courier, ecommerce development, business support».
In their relevant announcement, they also state that postal services are provided uninterruptedly in every region of the country, regardless of the operation of a physical store, through 1,400 postmen, 500 partners, 400 courier agents and rural distributors, in hundreds of collaborating points and using modern tools. This ensures that the region will be served more flexibly and efficiently.
ELTA, which has belonged to the Superfund since 2017, remains faithfully committed to the universal provision of postal services even in the most remote parts of the country and will continue to do so. For 198 years, the face of the postman has been a point of reference in every corner of Greece and remains at the center of the new era of ELTA – with modern means, new equipment and services that meet the needs of citizens.
Most postmen and partners are equipped with digital media, while rural distributors, like digital postmen, a unique advantage of ELTA throughout Greece, have equipment that allows them to provide a multitude of services to customers without requiring a visit to a store. Thus ELTA manages to provide home service and ensure coverage even in the most remote areas.
The new ELTA are expanding with new, more modern forms of presence. The 204 stores that are being withdrawn have minimal commercial activity and overlaps from neighboring locations. Several of them operated with losses exceeding 150,000 euros per year. With the readjustment of the network, ELTA personnel are transferred to productive functions, strengthening the presence of postmen and the operational dynamics in the region.
In areas where there will be no physical store, services will continue to be provided as normal through the distribution network, mobile units and partner points. Our postmen and partners will cover every area, ensuring that no community is left without access to essential postal services.
Especially for the elderly and residents of remote areas, ELTA emphasizes that they will continue to be served with the physical presence of a postman. ELTA distributors now have modern equipment, such as POS and mobile PDA devices, which allow them to carry out transactions and provide services at home. The aim is to maintain human contact and personal service, particularly for those with limited mobility, in an organized, safe and stable manner.
With a phone call to 212 0000 700, citizens can find out the details of their local postman and schedule an appointment for home service. At the same time, local businesses and agencies are served by mobile mail collection centers, which pass through at regular intervals, ensuring fast and reliable service without delays.
In addition, collaborations are already being considered with private professionals who will express interest in the operation of service points, under the ELTA or ELTA Courier brand, as is already the case in many regions of Greece. In this way, continuity of presence and services is ensured in each municipality, with a more flexible and sustainable operating model.
We note that the postal market has undergone radical changes in recent years, as a result of extensive digitization and the drastic reduction of letter mail. In the last ten years, 90% of the letter product has been lost, while only in the last five years the reduction exceeded 50%. Today, less than 10% of ELTA’s total revenue is linked to the operation of physical stores, while their operating costs correspond to approximately 45% of the company’s total costs.
The transformation of ELTA is a necessary condition to ensure their future and prospects, their employees and their social role, in a highly competitive environment. It is a matter of survival for ELTA itself.
Our strategy is to have the best possible coverage. ELTA has already risen to the 2nd place in the parcel market and is investing in modern logistics and electric mobility infrastructure, with 250 hybrid vehicles and 250 electric two-wheelers that strengthen their presence throughout the country.
In this way, the consolidation and modernization of ELTA is achieved in order to ensure that the company will operate with sustainability, transparency and efficiency to continue to provide high level services to all customers, with a positive footprint and responsibility. After all, the unified ELTA and ELTA Courier network will have over 800 service points throughout the country, ensuring the coverage of every region and the uninterrupted provision of postal services
The Hellenic Post Office operates with responsibility towards the citizens and communities of the country, developing its historical work through a modern, sustainable and efficient operating model that meets the needs of the new era. With a stable presence in the region, investments in people and technology and the goal of improving daily service, ELTA continues to connect Greece — reliable, modern and everywhere.
The article ELTA: 204 stores across the country are closing – The company’s response was published on NewsIT .