GE's (GE) Clever Move: Announce A Global Trend To Help Sales

About two years ago, GE (GE) began to talk about its “green” initiative and how important it was that businesses and governments begin to work on sustainable energy solutions to save the environment. Of course, GE’s infrastructure unit sells products and services that can assist those who want to be environmentally friendly. That makes the “green” push a little less altruistic and a little more commercial.

The world’s largest conglomerate is at it again. This time the initiative is improving global healthcare. People are living longer. The standards of medical treatment and results vary wildly from country to country.

According tothe FT, “General Electric is to prepare a fresh sales and marketing blitz designed to capitalise on its belief that solving the world’s healthcare needs will be a “mega-trend” in the global economy for decades to come.”

Since GE’s healthcare unit is one of its largest and sales there have slowed in the last year, pushing improved medical standards and practices is a nice way to help jump-start revenue in what is a very important business for the company.

The ploy may have worked once, with the environment, but the second time around the strategy is strained. And, too obvious to fool anyone.

Douglas A. McIntyre