Progress against targets
The Annual Report 2008 set out a number of key targets for Philips Healthcare in 2009. The advances made in addressing these are outlined below. Improve margins through acceleration of operational improvementsThe fast-changing healthcare market accelerated a need to aggressively adjust our cost structure to become much more competitive in all markets. We succeeded in structurally reducing our fixed and discretionary costs. A new approach to optimizing our investments in innovation also lowered our costs. At the same time we introduced a sector-wide program to structurally improve our operational excellence. This program covers five specific areas – quote to cash, supply base optimization, integrated customer services, pricing and post-merger integration. Grow faster than our market in key market segmentsWe continue to invest in critical capabilities to strengthen our commercial organization in key markets. We are improving the quality of our channels by focusing on strategically valuable target segments, which include imaging, clinical decision support and home healthcare. Philips continues to make key strategic investments in emerging technologies in these areas, either through organic growth or acquisitions, aiming to better serve our customers’ needs, improve clinical outcomes, reduce healthcare costs and create new revenue opportunities. For example, our acquisition of Traxtal in 2009 provides foundational device navigation technology allowing Philips to further support minimally-invasive surgical procedures by expanding our presence in the rapidly growing image-guided intervention and therapy market. Philips is also leveraging its product and services portfolio in innovative ways to create integrated solutions for customers. We offer innovative financing and business modeling solutions to our customers to simplify and ease purchasing decisions. Additionally, we continue to expand our presence in market-leading Ambient Experience and healing environment solutions, a further contributor to the continued growth of our highly profitable Customer Services business. We have introduced new low and mid-range products, boosting growth in these market segments in both mature and emerging markets. We received certification in China for one such product, the latest addition to the HD family of ultrasound systems, which deliver high-quality imaging in an affordable package. In addition, we are making significant strategic investments in our industrial footprint in emerging markets in order to drive growth by better serving local customers and to reduce our overall cost position. Deliver value to our customers and shareholders by effective integration of our acquisitionsIn 2009 we successfully completed the next steps in the integration of major prior-year acquisitions, notably Respironics. At the same time we continued to expand our portfolio with some modest acquisitions. For instance, we acquired InnerCool Therapies Inc., a pioneer in the field of therapeutic hypothermia, strengthening our position in the emergency care market by adding body temperature management solutions. We also acquired Traxtal, a medical technology innovator in image-guided procedures, to strengthen our position as a leading provider of minimally invasive therapy solutions. Integration of both acquisitions is progressing well. Enhance engagement of our workforceThe challenges our sector is currently facing are reflected, to a degree, in our 2009 employee engagement score. Overall employee engagement went down to 62% favorable, from 67% in 2008. However our index measuring the leadership effectiveness of managers – as perceived by employees – continued to improve, rising from 68% in 2008 to 69% in 2009. Furthermore, we have further strengthened our focus on talent inflow and leadership development in our emerging markets, one of the main focus areas for our long-term growth plans.
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