The business world should consider the future possibilities of IT in their planning, it has been suggested.

According to network supplier Panduit, offices will soon feature high-tech systems that can control air-conditioning and lighting automatically in time for meetings and turn off lights to preserve energy.

Using an IP network in the building could save companies thousands of pounds through lower energy bills and maintenance costs, Panduit's business development manager Brett Swett suggested.

But he added that firms are currently unprepared for the introduction of this sort IT-based office control networks that go beyond data voice and video to include security systems and climate control.

Speaking to Techworld, he claimed that businesses need to adopt "zoned networks" when refurbishing their current premises to make it easier for them to support new services, as this should reduce the need to have large numbers of cables running from IT rooms to all areas of the office.