About Us

Laser Focus World is an industry bedrock—first published in 1965 and still going strong. We publish original articles about cutting-edge advances in lasers, optics, photonics, sensors, and quantum technologies, as well as test and measurement, and the shift currently underway to usher in the photonic integrated circuits, optical interconnects, and copackaged electronics and photonics to deliver the speed and efficiency essential for data centers of the future.

Our 80,000 qualified print subscribers—and 130,000 12-month engaged online audience—trust us to dive in and provide original journalism you won’t find elsewhere covering key emerging areas such as laser-driven inertial confinement fusion, lasers in space, integrated photonics, chipscale lasers, LiDAR, metasurfaces, high-energy laser weaponry, photonic crystals, and quantum computing/sensors/communications. We cover the innovations driving these markets.

Laser Focus World is part of Endeavor Business Media, a division of EndeavorB2B.

Laser Focus World Membership

Never miss any articles, videos, podcasts, or webinars by signing up for membership access to Laser Focus World online. You can manage your preferences all in one place—and provide our editorial team with your valued feedback.

Magazine Subscription

Can you subscribe to receive our print issue for free? Yes, you sure can!

Newsletter Subscription

A Laser Focus World newsletter subscription is free to qualified professionals:

The Daily Beam

Showcases the newest content from Laser Focus World, including photonics- and optics-based applications, components, research, and trends. (Daily)

Product Watch

The latest in products within the photonics industry. (9x per year)

Bio & Life Sciences Product Watch

The latest in products within the biophotonics industry. (4x per year)

Laser Processing Product Watch

The latest in products within the laser processing industry. (3x per year)

Get Published!

If you’d like to write an article for us, reach out with a short pitch to Sally Cole Johnson: [email protected]. We love to hear from you.

Photonics Hot List

Laser Focus World produces a video newscast that gives a peek into what’s happening in the world of photonics.

Following the Photons: A Photonics Podcast

Following the Photons: A Photonics Podcast dives deep into the fascinating world of photonics. Our weekly episodes feature interviews and discussions with industry and research experts, providing valuable perspectives on the issues, technologies, and trends shaping the photonics community.

Social Media

Bluesky • Facebook • Instagram • LinkedIn • YouTube

Meet the Laser Focus World Team

Editorial

Sales

Editorial Advisory Board

  • Professor Andrea M. Armani, University of Southern California
  • Ruti Ben-Shlomi, Ph.D., LightSolver
  • James Butler, Ph.D., Hamamatsu
  • Natalie Fardian-Melamed, Ph.D., Columbia University
  • Justin Sigley, Ph.D., AmeriCOM
  • Professor Birgit Stiller, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, and Leibniz University of Hannover
  • Professor Stephen Sweeney, University of Glasgow
  • Mohan Wang, Ph.D., University of Oxford
  • Professor Xuchen Wang, Harbin Engineering University
  • Professor Stefan Witte, Delft University of Technology
My Watchlist
Indicators
Industrial Laser Index
Markets
Stocks
ETFs
Tools
Markets:
Overview
News
Currencies
International
Treasuries

Gartner Says Supply Chain Leaders Must Address Three Priorities Amid Impacts From Israel-Iran Conflict

By: via Business Wire

Chief Supply Chain Officers Should Brace Their CFOs for Ongoing Cost Volatility

To help organizations navigate the ongoing impacts posed by the Israel-Iran conflict, Gartner Inc. has identified three critical priorities for chief supply chain officers (CSCOs) to implement now to secure their operations.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250625844957/en/

Figure 1: Global Supply Chain Vulnerability (Source: Gartner, June 2025)

Figure 1: Global Supply Chain Vulnerability (Source: Gartner, June 2025)

In response to the ongoing impacts from the conflict, CSCOs should:

  1. Assess and mitigate their exposure to new global transportation bottlenecks
  2. Prepare CFOs for continued supply chain cost volatility
  3. Review supply chain resilience strategies

“As the conflict between Israel and Iran oscillates, CSCOs must leverage the resilience they have built in recent years, recognizing that the global significance of this region makes it nearly impossible to avoid adverse impacts, even if only indirect,” said David Gonzalez, VP analyst in Gartner’s Supply Chain practice.

Mitigate Regional Bottlenecks

The latest conflict is adding to significant bottlenecks across the region’s key shipping routes (see Figure 1) and logistics hubs, including:

  • Red Sea and Suez Canal: Container traffic remains well below pre-crisis levels, with major shipping lines avoiding the Suez Canal. Organizations must monitor transit times and adjust expectations for longer lead times and higher costs.
  • Strait of Hormuz: Heightened risk of disruption is causing delays and congestion as companies seek alternative routes. Supply chain leaders should engage partners to identify and manage new shipping options.
  • Regional Ports: High-volume ports such as Jebel Ali, Khalifa Port, Dammam and Haifa face increased pressure, with some having already faced service interruptions. Contingency planning for alternative ports is essential.
  • Eurasian Rail Freight: Demand for rail freight between Asia and Europe has surged, leading to congestion and longer booking times. Organizations should trial rail options where feasible, weighing higher costs against faster transit.

“Regardless of the status of the conflict, CSCOs should continue engaging with their ecosystem of partners to identify alternative routes, assess the viability of shifting volume to less impacted regional ports, and consider multimodal transportation options for some goods after conducting a cost-benefit analysis,” said Gonzalez. “This conflict should serve as a catalyst for improving organizations’ supply chain resiliency plans over the long-term.”

Prepare CFOs for Cost Volatility

Ongoing disruptions in the Middle East are driving up supply chain costs across energy, transportation, insurance, inventory, and technology. CSCOs must proactively engage CFOs to assess budget impacts and prepare for increased spending. Price volatility in crude oil and liquid natural gas (LNG) are elevating energy and fuel surcharges, while rerouted shipments and longer transit times are pushing up transportation rates. Insurance premiums for goods in transit continue to climb, and higher inventory levels are needed to safeguard against supply interruptions.

Underinvestment in supply chain technology has left many organizations exposed, making it critical to build the business case for new tools that enhance visibility and risk management. In this environment, close collaboration between supply chain leaders and CFOs is essential to navigate ongoing volatility and protect customer service levels.

Review Supply Chain Resilience Strategies

The conflict is putting previous supply chain resilience strategies to the test. CSCOs must identify risks to critical raw materials, ensure the continued flow of finished goods, and conduct cost-benefit analyses of mitigation actions in partnership with finance leaders. This includes evaluating potential impacts on margins and reviewing the product portfolio for vulnerabilities.

Gonzalez noted that while many supply chain leaders have already invested in collaborative supplier relationships and risk mitigation, ongoing trade disruptions and regional tensions require a renewed focus. CSCOs should reassess existing supplier networks, confirm the viability of current mitigation plans, and address any overreliance on specific geographies to reduce exposure and ensure business continuity.

Gartner clients can read more in Why the Israel-Iran Conflict Requires a Rapid Response From CSCOs. Nonclients can learn more in Top Supply Chain Risks and Mitigation Strategies.

About the Gartner Supply Chain Practice

The Gartner Supply Chain Practice provides actionable, objective insights for supply chain leaders and their teams, so they can respond to disruption and innovate for the future through leading-edge supply chain management practices. Additional information is available at https://www.gartner.com/en/supply-chain. Follow news and updates from the Gartner Supply Chain Practice on LinkedIn and X using #GartnerSC. Visit the Gartner Supply Chain Newsroom for more information and insights.

About Gartner

Gartner, Inc. (NYSE: IT) delivers actionable, objective insight that drives smarter decisions and stronger performance on an organization’s mission-critical priorities. To learn more, visit gartner.com.

This conflict should serve as a catalyst for improving organizations’ supply chain resiliency plans over the long-term.

Contacts

More News

View More
Rocket Lab: A Space Giant Hitting New Highs—Time to Chase?
Via MarketBeat
Tickers RKLB
Lowe’s vs. Home Depot: Which Benefits More From Lower Rates?
Via MarketBeat
Topics Economy
Tickers AMD HD LOW
These 5 Beaten-Down Tech Stocks Could Catch Fire Next
Via MarketBeat
Topics Artificial Intelligence
Tickers ASTS ETSY OPEN SOUN TEM
Falcon Flex Drives Growth as CrowdStrike Bets on AI Security
Via MarketBeat
Topics Artificial Intelligence
Tickers CRWD
Amphenol: The Unseen Giant Behind Every Major Tech Trend
Via MarketBeat
Topics Artificial Intelligence
Tickers APH COMM
Stock Quote API & Stock News API supplied by www.cloudquote.io
Quotes delayed at least 20 minutes.
By accessing this page, you agree to the following
Privacy Policy and Terms Of Service.