Indeed, but "modern" communications have still generally been used by older workers, overseen by even older managers. There's an element of "we've always done it that way", so the best of modern communications technology hasn't really been fully embraced until far more recently. Those older people are happy to email etc., but they still want their meetings in person because they know no different. Same with remote working - the older generation of managers are sceptical and are more accustomed to monitoring their workforce by physical observation, but the younger generations will be more willing to use technology to monitor their workers' performance etc.
I see it with my business. I have clients all over the country (and some overseas) who I've never met and where all communication is done by email (they're mostly the younger generations). Then I have my older client base, mostly local, who just can't comprehend not having their usual annual meeting and the ones who have to hand their paperwork to me in person, not even trusting Royal Mail - even though they've already emailed me various spreadsheets etc. All because it's what they're used to - their comfort zone. It's a real uphill struggle to get the older generations to accept that meeting in person for every slightest thing just isn't necessary.
Now that we've had a generation or two coming through into supervisory/managerial roles who've been brought up with email and skype, I am confident that the move away from physical meetings will gather pace and use of email/skype/apps/remote working etc will really gather momentum.
It's a bit like the use of cash. There's massive inertia because of habit and distrust. In theory, the country could (and maybe should) be cashless, but there are so many people who just havn't embraced the idea yet. When there is a "critical mass" where most people use debit cards instead of cash, there'll be massive acceleration and uptake.
In both examples, it could take, say 40 years for the majority (say 50% plus) of people to go cashless and for the majority of business to be done remotely, but then maybe only a further 10 years for it to reach say 90/95% at which time, the minority will have no choice but to accept the brave new world. I think that remote working and skype meetings etc will follow that kind of roll-out. When it becomes commonplace and "the norm", the take up will rapidly accelerate.