Christis Plastiras describes the transformation of Svelta Courier into easyCourier as one of the company's most significant milestones to date.
In an interview with InBusinessNews, the CEO of easyCourier emphasises that joining the easyGroup family opens doors across Europe, noting that the "easy" brand enjoys global recognition and brings credibility to every European market.
At the same time, he explains that easyCourier's ambitions extend far beyond the Cypriot market.
"Our ultimate goal is to create one of the largest courier operator networks across the European Union. We are not simply building another courier company in Cyprus; we aspire to become pioneers in the European last-mile delivery market, starting from Cyprus," he stresses.
Addressing aspiring entrepreneurs, he advises them simply to get started, pointing out that ideal conditions will never exist, while also urging them never to make decisions when they are in a state of panic.
What opportunities does the transformation of Svelta Courier into easyCourier and its integration into a major group such as easyGroup create?
Joining the easyGroup family opens European doors that would have been extremely difficult for us to open on our own. The ‘easy’ brand is recognised worldwide and brings credibility to every European market. That alone represents an enormous strategic advantage.
At the same time, the rebranding we carried out was not simply a name change, but a merging of values. easyGroup's philosophy of being "for the many, not the few" aligns perfectly with our own values of transparency, reliability and trust, creating a very solid foundation for success in the last-mile delivery sector.
Furthermore, Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou's presence at our launch event generated exceptional pan-European media coverage and brand awareness that would otherwise have taken years to build. Beyond the publicity, the exchange of knowledge and experience with the other easyGroup brands is invaluable.
The transformation of Svelta Courier into easyCourier represents the biggest milestone in our journey so far.
What are the company's goals and plans, and how will courier services in Cyprus change?
I would like to clarify one point from the outset: our plans are not confined solely to the Cypriot market. Our overarching objective is to create one of the largest courier operator networks throughout the European Union. We are not simply establishing another courier company in Cyprus; we aim to lead innovation in the European last-mile delivery market, beginning here in Cyprus.
We like to describe ourselves as a technology company operating within the delivery sector, and that philosophy is reflected in every aspect of how we operate.
easyCourier introduces a new, technologically advanced approach to parcel deliveries, featuring a modern customer portal with real-time updates, AI-powered automated route optimisation, advanced fleet capacity management, automated cash-on-delivery settlement, e-commerce plugins and many other innovative features—all built on Svelta, our proprietary software platform.
Ultimately, what we are changing is how easily and how effectively we deliver for every business, every parcel and every time.
What are the main challenges facing the deliveries and logistics industry? How is the sector evolving and what are the prospects for the remainder of the year?
The industry is currently facing numerous complex challenges simultaneously.
The rapid growth of e-commerce has dramatically increased demand for home deliveries, requiring courier companies to meet this demand without delays—a particularly difficult task given the fluctuating nature of order volumes.
Added to this are volatile fuel prices, geopolitical tensions that disrupt supply chains, and increasingly stringent requirements to reduce carbon emissions. At the same time, the challenge of providing fast, cost-effective deliveries in heavily congested urban areas remains one of the industry's greatest bottlenecks.
Naturally, there are also operational challenges. There are no simple solutions in this industry, which is precisely why technology plays such a crucial role in last-mile delivery.
As for the outlook for the remainder of the year, despite these challenges, the sector continues to grow. Demand for last-mile delivery is not expected to decline. E-commerce expands every year, and with it comes an increasing need for reliable, fast and technologically advanced delivery solutions.
The companies that will survive and thrive are those that invest in technology and operational efficiency. That is exactly what we are doing, which is why we remain optimistic—not only about the rest of this year, but also about the future of easyCourier.
In addition to founding Svelta, you have led successful start-ups such as Ergodotisi. How difficult was it to secure funding and/or achieve a successful exit? What advice would you give to a young entrepreneur?
Securing funding is one of the most difficult—if not the single most difficult—challenges a start-up founder faces.
The best way to improve your chances is to already have something tangible: a minimum viable product (MVP) and your first customers. These demonstrate that there is genuine demand for your idea and that the challenge is no longer validation, but scaling the business. Once a start-up becomes profitable, discussions about an exit become considerably easier.
Above all, my advice to young entrepreneurs is this: just get started. If you wait for the perfect conditions, you will never begin, because those ideal conditions will never exist.
You need resilience, because things will not always unfold according to plan. You will have to pivot, solve problems you never imagined would arise, and adapt continuously.
And when things go wrong—and they will—stay calm. Do not make decisions when you are in a state of panic.
Despite all the challenges, entrepreneurship is a journey that is well worth taking. I certainly would not trade it for anything. Difficult though it may be, it rewards you in countless other ways.
(Source: InBusinessNews)
