A week ago, Ferry Shipping News was in Greece, giving the opportunity to have a conversation with Spiros Paschalis.
What are the most important objectives for Attica Group during the next three years?
For all of us in Attica Group, achieving our business objectives has been and remains directly associated with our generic objective to create and maintain a solid trust relationship with our Stakeholders.
Attica Group’s main objectives for the next 3 years are the following:
- Organic Growth through expansion in new markets.
- Product upscale with newbuilding vessels
- Enhancement and personalisation of Customer Experience
- Digitalisation at all levels.
- Homogenisation of Management Systems
How will you achieve these objectives?
Organic Growth through expansion in new markets. It will be achieved by reinforcing our presence in markets we currently operate and of course we always pursue expansion in new business opportunities, in other geographical regions or other related industries.
Product upscale with newbuilding vessels. We are currently working on a fleet development/renewal project, comprising the designing of three ferry prototypes for different type of operations. Those vessels would be environmentally friendly, belonging to the new generation of ferries.
Enhancement and personalisation of Customer Experience. We live in a digital era where consumers expect a personalised experience that is tailored to meet their needs. At the same time they demand that everything is done asap. Attica Group is currently investing a great part of the Marketing budget in the renewal of the internet sites of Superfast Ferries, Blue Star Ferries and Hellenic Seaways in order to offer a unique user experience, customised to each of our customers’ needs. Additionally, the software of our Loyalty Scheme “Seasmiles” is planned to be restructured providing more options to our members. We are also working on the creation of a CRM system and on other innovation projects.
Digitalisation at all levels. Attica Group embraces digital transformation and aims to optimise every touch point throughout the customer journey as well as digitise all internal procedures in the areas of finance, financial control, security, operations. Another project that reinforces that is the launch of “OneAttica” the intranet of the company which among others, optimises the cooperation between departments as well as the internal communication by providing direct information to the employees about the developments, new decisions and decisions concerning the Group. In addition, it cultivates a common Company culture.
Homogenisation of Management Systems. We will use technology based on a continuous critical review of our processes in order to achieve the simplification of the systems within the framework of integrity and efficiency
How will Attica look and operate in three to five years?
Attica Group is now the largest Group in its sector in Greece, the third largest in the Mediterranean and among the tenth largest in Europe, investing continuously in the future.
Our mission for the next years is to strengthen the Group’s leading position and value, through profitable expansion into new markets and activities, as well as provide high quality services which exceed market expectations.
Attica is considered and will continue to be a pioneer in passenger shipping and will offer reliable services being customers’ first choice, creating solid and long-term relationships with customers, partners and local communities.
For the next years we will continue to manage responsibly our resources and actively contribute to our Group’s healthy, sustainable and profitable growth as well as increase our focus in integrating sustainable development in our operations and apply environmentally friendlier business practices, reducing our environmental footprint, informing at the same time our employees on environmental protection issues.
Do you believe that the industry consolidation will continue domestically and/or internationally?
The industry both on the Greece – Italy and domestic routes demonstrates intense seasonality regarding transportation of passengers and private vehicles, as there is higher transportation volume during July to September and reduced transportation volume during November to March. On the other hand, during those months there is lower seasonality regarding transportation of freight units, as their transportation volume is equally distributed throughout the year.
The Adriatic market is a mature market which has gone through challenging and competing times. The competition is still intense besides the fact that the volumes of passengers, vehicles and cargo are stabilised with small signs of improvement.
After the acquisition and operational integration of Hellenic Seaways the fleet of Attica Group operates in Cyclades, Dodecanese, Crete, North Aegean, Saronic and Sporades, consisting the leader of the market. Nevertheless, the Greek Domestic Ferry Market is very competitive, especially in the summer season, and we expect challenging times ahead.
What do you expect from 2019 on the passenger side?
Concerning the Italy – Greece routes we have noticed that reservations are somewhat delayed this year, not only for our own product but generally for Greece as a destination.