The Hellenic Post Office issued an announcement on the extension of the “ELTA at home” service, following the decision to suddenly lock 204 ELTA branches throughout Greece.

“The Hellenic Post Office is moving forward dynamically in its transformation, expanding the model”ELTA at home“, which brings all ELTA services directly to the citizen’s door,” the company’s announcement points out.

As stated by the CEO of ELTA, Mr. Grigoris Sklikas, “the post office is not just the neighborhood store; it is a service that reaches even closer to the citizen, wherever he is, with modern means, flexibility and reliability.”

The institution “ELTA at home” makes use of the strong network 1,400 postmen, 500 ELTA partners and 400 ELTA Courier distributorswhich serve every corner of the country every day. Postmen have full digital equipment (PDA, POS) and can make payments, collect, send and deliver items directly to the citizen’s premises.

Special care is given to pensioners and to residents of remote areaswho they will continue to be served with the physical presence of a postmanlike today.

In each area where shop operations are suspended, citizens will be informed of the rural postman who serves them and will be able to contact him directly for home service scheduling. At the same time, through the call center 212 0000 700, they can receive information and schedule an appointment with the postman in their area.

“No island will be left without a shop and no Greek without a postman“, said Mr. Sklikas. “With ELTA at home, every citizen has access to all services, at home, with the same person who has always served them – but now even faster, simpler, more digital and closer.”

The reorganization of the ELTA network is necessary

The reorganization of the ELTA network is a necessary step for the viability and future of the company. ELTA, as the CEO pointed out, remains in deficit in a highly competitive market, while today, less than 10% of total revenue is linked to the operation of physical stores, when their operating costs correspond to approximately 45% of the company’s total costs. Many of the stores were operating with minimal revenues and losses exceeding 150,000 euros per year per store.

Therefore, the transformation of ELTA is a necessary condition to ensure their future and prospects, the employees and their social role. Otherwise, the overall survival of ELTA could be threatened. Continuing to operate dozens of stores with minimal commercial activity and limited customer footfall would not be a viable option.

The decision to suspend the operation of 204 stores is based on documented financial and operational data and is a continuation of a wider transformation plan that has been implemented for the last two and a half years. This was preceded by the merger with ELTA Courier, the renewal of the fleet with 250 hybrid and 250 electric vehicles, the digitization of services and the training of staff.

The Universal Postal Service remains fully insured.

At least one post office operates on each island.

Sin areas where there is no longer a physical store, service is provided through the network of rural post offices, mobile units, cooperating points and agencies with the commercial identity of ELTA or ELTA Courierensuring uninterrupted presence and the same services with lower operating costs.

Every day, more than 1,400 postmen, 500 ELTA Courier partners and 400 ELTA Courier partner distributors serve citizens and businesses throughout the country, covering remote, mountainous and island areas.

This number will be increased by moving staff from the closed stores, enhancing distribution and frequency of service.

The human resources of ELTA remain at the core of this effort. No ELTA employee loses his position. Staff are leveraged into new, more productive functions, strengthening critical areas such as distribution, customer service and digital operations. At the same time, training and skills upgrading programs continue, so that every employee can actively participate in the new era of the Organization.

ELTA remains present throughout the country, with new forms of operation, modern tools and a human face. They support the district, invest in technology, training and equipment, and shape a sustainable, reliable and human post office that serves the citizen with consistency and respect.